Julie Mae Campbell Champ

Julie Mae Campbell Champ, 74, of Urbandale, Iowa, passed away peacefully at Taylor Hospice House on April 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Julie was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 18, 1948, to proud parents, Robert and Jean (Monson) Campbell. She graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 1966, and obtained her degree in elementary education from the University of Dubuque in 1970. She taught first grade in Oelwein, Iowa until her marriage to Brian Douglas Champ on July 10, 1971, in Cedar Rapids. The couple relocated to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where Julie worked as a Head Start Director.

In 1975, Julie gave birth to their son Ben and the family soon returned to Iowa to be closer to family, settling in Davenport where daughter Heather was born in 1977. Julie returned to teaching at the Lollipop Preschool before beginning a long career with the Davenport Community School District teaching special education students, and later first and second grade at Walcott Elementary School.


A life-long learner, educator, and mentor, Julie completed her Master’s Degree at Western Illinois University in 1986 in special education and continued with additional graduate studies for several years after. She believed deeply in the importance of a quality public education experience and enjoyed helping students, parents, and new teachers in particular through her leadership of the teacher mentoring program. Julie retired in 2012 and the couple has resided in Urbandale, Iowa since 2015.


Julie was an incredibly talented crafter whose creative genius found joy in almost any outlet including sewing, basket making, and especially quilting and costume making. Her endless trips to the fabric store and countless hours of handwork have been shared with many friends, acquaintances, family, and grandchildren through special quilts, bears, blankets, and costumes to be enjoyed for generations.

Julie enjoyed water, sand, and sun, traveling with her husband, and talking to her grandchildren everyday about school and life. She also had a special place in her heart for dogs.

Julie is survived by her husband, Brian Champ; her son, Ben Champ (Debra Arp) of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; daughter, Heather DeWitt (Josh) of Broomfield, Colorado; and grandsons, Greyson DeWitt and Owen DeWitt.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents.

Services will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023 with a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society or Animal Rescue League.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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