Obituary of Julia Helen Oxley

West Branch, Iowa

Julia Helen Stark Oxley graciously joined her family and a host of friends in Heaven on March 21, 2023 at Cedar Manor Nursing Home in Tipton at the age of 93.

Julia was born in rural Colo, Iowa on February 23, 1930 to parents Clarence and Agnita (Mulcahy) Stark.

Julia graduated from Nevada High School in 1947 and continued her education at Mercy School of Nursing in Des Moines, becoming a Registered Nurse on April 6, 1951. She embarked on a decades long career until officially retiring at the age of 82. Julia worked at Mercy Hospital (Des Moines), Mary Greeley Medical Center (Ames), Story County Hospital (Nevada) and at Crestview Care Center (West Branch) for over 33 years and later Cedar Manor Nursing home (Tipton). The latter is where she would call home during her final years.

Julia married Herbert Oxley on February 26, 1953 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa.

Julia was a lifelong member of St. Bernadette’s of West Branch and frequently enjoyed celebrating Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty. 

Affectionally known as the “Birthday Lady” by the Iowa City Press Citizen when making daily calls to add to the birthday segment of the newspaper, Julia always remembered a birthday of a family member or friend and was renowned for her own rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song.

Surviving family members include daughters Monica Chavera, Rose Laing, & Laura Fuhrmeister (Joe), sons James (Ruth), Timothy (Rachel), Marcus, John (Dawn) and 22 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Julia was preceded in death by her husband Herbert, daughter Janella, sons Joseph, Brian, and Kevin, daughter-in-law Terri, granddaughter Jennifer, great-granddaughter Micah, son-in-law Raul and brothers Carl Pat, Chuck, John, Ed, and sister Mary Ada Black and parents Clarence and Agnita. Additional surviving family members include a host of nieces and nephews as well as the staff and residents of Cedar Manor.

In lieu of memorials and flowers, be kind and do something for someone else to make their life a little bit easier and be sure to reach out to family and friends on their birthday. Julia recognized these as opportunities to bring joy to others and the world.

Julia’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Cedar Manor for their care the last 3.5 years with the additional help from St. Croix Hospice in her last months.

Visitation will be held 9 to 10 A.M.  Saturday, March 25, 2023 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in West Branch with a Rosary to be recited at 10 and mass to follow at 10:30. Burial will be in the Downey Cemetery.