Julie Peltier

Julie Peltier, age 54 of Hartford, Wisconsin, formerly Forest Lake, Minnesota passed away unexpectedly in her home on September 18, 2018.

Julie was born on November 23, 1963, to Jim and Rose Carlson Peltier in Forest Lake, Minnesota, where she grew up.  As a child, Julie spent a great deal of time outdoors; she loved her horse and she loved nature. She credited her parents as her earliest role models and mentors, describing her mother as a strong and capable woman and her father as the one who fostered her interest in hunting. Both parents instilled the value of a strong work ethic. She graduated from Forest Lake in 1982. Julie attended Vermilion Community College in Ely, MN, and received an associate of applied science degree in natural resource technology with a wildlife emphasis. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1993, earning a bachelor’s degree in forest resource management with a silviculture emphasis.

Julie was a longtime employee of the Wisconsin DNR stationed at Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit in Hartford, WI.  She first worked with the Forest Service on the Black Hills National Forest for several years and joined the DNR in 1997 as a field forester. Later, she became a Forest Tax Law Administration Specialist. Julie received many awards for her work with the DNR, including Division’s Cooperative Forest Management Forester of the Year in 2013. Her extensive involvement in various management and development projects as well as her work with many youth education expos and workshops made her a highly valuable employee and a chief forestry steward. Besides her local efforts, Julie was an integral member of the Society of American Foresters. Through this, she served on executive committees and was elected to fill many leadership roles at the state and national level. In an interview with the Wild World of CarrieZ Hunting, Julie stated, “Leadership is action, not position.”

Julie’s passion for the outdoors and her love of working with people earned the respect and admiration of many friends, peers and volunteers in her profession. She was persistently dedicated to the advancement of natural resources, to her colleagues and to the landowners she worked with.

When Julie was forced to stay inside, she was an avid reader, and she also enjoyed cross-stitching and embroidering.  Once the seasons would allow, she hunted deer and turkey.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Rose, and nephew, Michael Williams.  She is survived by her loving father, Jim Peltier; sisters, Joyce (Bob) Williams and Bernice Peltier; niece, Elizabeth Williams; and nephew, Ruben Williams, along with numerous other friends and family.

A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at the amphitheater in the park at 3544 Kettle Moraine Road, Hartford, WI which is the beach entrance one mile south of Hwy 60.  Family will greet friends one hour prior to service.  Please dress accordingly, perhaps wearing Cabela’s attire and bring a comfortable chair.

A second Celebration of Her Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2018 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 N. Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN. Family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.