Julie Kamrath, 66, of Spirit Lake passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, surrounded by her loving children and daughter-in-law at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake.
Services for Julie will be January 10th, with a small informal Celebration of Life at 1pm at the VFW in Spirit Lake with a more formal one at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be directed to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Julie Joanne Kamrath was born in Estherville, IA, on August 7th, 1959. She was raised on the family farm by Norman and Mary Ann (Barfoot) Rasmussen. Julie and her siblings spent many summers walking the bean fields and causing all kinds of ruckus and mischief to entertain themselves and learn valuable “life lessons.” She attended and graduated from Ringsted High School where she was a cheerleader. She left Ringsted soon after graduating as her heart longed for something more than the quiet little town could offer. She moved around a lot, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa before settling in the lakes area.
In 1985, Julie was married to Jeff Winters, and to this union two children were born, Trista and Ryan.
She had many jobs over the years including waitressing at places like the Marquee and Smoking Jakes, and front desk in the hotel industry where she had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people, some who even turned into family. Her favorite job and happiest place, aside from being a mom and grandma, was playing in the dirt and working with plants in a greenhouse/nursery. She unfortunately had to leave it behind due to health issues.
In her free time, she enjoyed spending every moment she could with her grandkids, cats and her beloved daughter. Julie especially enjoyed watching Tevin in all his many adventures from sports to the fine arts. She loved buying Aralyse endless art supplies, jewelry, cloaks and capes for dressing up and seeing all the many things she would create and come up with!
Food was always the way to her heart, so her favorite chef and place to eat was always with her beloved son. She always started with dessert first, unless it was Ryan cooking, because as she saw it, all of Ryan’s food was delectable!
Her favorite time of year was always holidays and summer because it meant being with family.
Julie was incredibly passionate about many things, Faun, Fairies, Renaissance, dragons, cats. Especially cats! But nothing compared to her love, pride and passion when she talked about how proud she was of her son, daughter and grandkids. They were truly the light of her life. Julie was also a very devoted cat mom to three stray cats she had adopted over the years from various places and situations. Some would even say she loved them more than her own children at times. She was always trying to save every cat that crossed her path and donated to several animal rescue places.
Left to cherish her memory are her children; daughter Trista Winters of Spirit Lake, grandchildren Tevin and Aralyse; son Ryan Winters and daughter in law Courtney of Milford; her mother Mary Ann Augustine of Mountain Home, AR; brothers Kelly & Mike Rasmussen of Ringsted, IA; sister Susan Rasmussen of Mountain Home, Anieces,beloved cats Sadie, affectionately known as Su Su, Tyg affectionately known as Tyggy Biscuits, and Freya affectionately known as Meep; and several cousins, nieces, and family and extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her father Norman Rasmussen; close cousins Paula Gerdes and Jackie Soat; two of her adored cats, Morgana and Spook; her father Jack Davis, along with several other relatives and loved ones gone far too soon.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to local animal shelters. Thank you!