Julie Ann 'Beebe'

Julie Ann (Nelsen) Colebank was born August 7, 1956 in Audubon, Iowa, to Beverly (Larsen) Fancher and Arnold Nelsen. She was the oldest of seven children and grew up enjoying an idyllic small-town childhood in Audubon. She graduated from Audubon High School in 1974.

Julie ‘Beebe’ will always be remembered by her family and friends as an extremely hard worker who often held down two jobs, in order to raise her daughters as a single mom. She was a lifelong animal lover who rescued many stray cats and dogs throughout the years and this passion for animals has been passed down to her daughters and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Julie was a voracious reader who retained so many random facts that she loved to share with anyone who would listen. Her family likes to joke that she was “Google before there was Google”.

Thirty years ago, Julie became ‘Beebe’ when her first grandchild invented the nickname. She loved it so much; it became the way she introduced herself to everyone she met. Over the years, she was proud to be a fun-loving Mom, Big Sister, and Friend. Her home was a meeting place where family and friends gathered for delicious home cooking and lots of belly laughs. More than anything, she loved being ‘Beebe’. Her grandchildren have many core memories from spending special moments with her that will never be forgotten.

Julie spent her final healthy years bowling the night away with her longtime best friends, Theresa and Mike Barner, from Templeton, and the family wants to thank them whole heartedly for all they did for her. The friendship they had meant the world to her.

Julie Ann passed away peacefully, with her daughter by her side, on August 22, 2024, after a courageous battle with Interstitial Lung Disease, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, having attained the age of 68 years and 15 days.

Family members who welcomed her home include her mother, Beverly (Larsen) Fancher, her father, Arnold Nelsen, little sister, Jeri (Nelsen) Nelson, little brother, Chad Nelsen, her beloved grandson, Taick Berger, and many other cherished family members and friends.

Julie will be forever remembered and loved by her daughter, Natalie (Lavina) Hernandez of LeMars, IA, daughter, Brandi LaFoy (Nick Weihs) of Audubon, IA, daughter, Ashlee Colebank of Cedar Rapids, IA, her beloved grandchildren: Kieresten (Jon Katz) of Sioux Falls, SD, Khiah (Derek Bremer) of Lincoln, NE, Timarie LaFoy of Altoona, IA, Diego Gomez of Los Angeles, CA, Dominic Short of Iowa City, IA, Olivia Gomez of LeMars, IA, Zander Short of Iowa City, IA, Sebastian Gomez of LeMars, IA and Braidyn, Justice and Sopheeah Colebank, all of Iowa City, IA; daughter, Nicholle Huffman of Bethany, OK, brother, Mike Nelsen of Grand Island, NE, sister, Ranae (Don) Schlater of Exira, IA, sister, Lisa (John) Alexander of Audubon, IA, sister, Karla Nelsen of Phoenix, AZ; stepfather, Bill Fancher of Audubon, IA, numerous and much loved nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and many great friends, including ‘Beebe’s Bestie’ Theresa (Mike) Barner of Templeton, IA.

She will be dearly missed by those who knew her, but her spirit will live on in the stories shared and the laughter that echoes in the hearts of her friends and family. As we remember Beebe, let us honor her life by celebrating the joyous moments we shared, embodying her wish for us to belly laugh often and to keep her memory alive through our own tales.

A Celebration of Life, with Family Greeting Friends, will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a Prayer Service to begin at 6 p.m., all at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning. Memorials may be directed to the family.