Michael Wilbert Julian

Michael (Mike) Wilbert Julian passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 with his daughters by his side.

Michael was born to Wilbert and Mildred (Krebsbach) Julian in Plum City, Wisconsin on February 5, 1944. Initially, his name was to be Adolph, but being war time, his parents decided to name him Michael, after his maternal grandparents' last name, Michaels. He was baptized and confirmed at the Maiden Rock Methodist Church, becoming a member in 1957, and residing on the church board from 1964-1973. Religion and faith were important to Michael. He took pride in having read the Bible in its entirety. He attended Maiden Rock, Ellsworth, and Pepin schools. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1962. During his growing up years, he worked on the family farm, helping with all that goes along with farming. In 1966, he graduated from barber school, barbering would become a life long venture, working in Red Wing, MN, alongside Bob Bostrom, Delmont Hague, and Larry Degner, from 1967-1975, and at Lakeside Barbers in Lake City, MN from 2008 - 2023, alongside Bruce Barnum. His final barbering job was at Total Looks in Lake City, MN, where he worked until March of 2026.

Michael lived in Maiden Rock,WI for most of his life, with the exception of living a short stint in Ashland, WI, and then settling in Red Wing, MN, where he has lived for the past 15 years. Growing up in Maiden Rock, he could always hear the trains as they traveled through town, and being able to live close to the sounds of the trains as they travel through Red Wing, was a comfort to him. Michael married Karen Louise Murray on April 18,1964, at the United Lutheran Church in Pepin, WI. Born to Michael and Karen were three daughters, Heather Louise, Stephanie Michelle, and Rachel Carissa. Michael and Karen divorced in 1973. Michael and Henrietta (Etta) Rose Werner were married in 1977. As a result of this marriage, Michael honorably accepted the position of stepfather to Etta's five children. Michael and Etta divorced in 1981. They remained wonderful friends through the years.

Mike held numerous positions throughout his life including Barber (1966- 2026), Riviera Kitchens (1962-1966), Bartender and owner of Lakeside Bar, (1975-1986), where many memories have been made for so many friends, and "where everybody knows your name". One could find All Star Wrestling on TV, every Sunday morning at Lakeside Bar. He was also a Restaurant owner (Waterfront Cafe) (1976-1978), Rural Postal Mail Carrier for the Maiden Rock Area (1983-2002),earning the United States Postal Service One Million Mile Award! Fire Chief for Maiden Rock Volunteer Fire Department (1986-1996, and 1997-1998), and Director of the Maiden Rock Cemetery Board (1994-2026) - a role that he was highly respected in, and he cherished. Other positions held have included Income Tax Service (1967-1989), Maiden Rock Village Board (1977-1984), and Township Zoning Board (1988-1996, and 1997-2001). Michael has also organized the Maiden Rock "all class" Reunion for the last 4 years, and it has grown larger each year!

Michael has been a part of many adventures with so many people, that there should have been a book written about them! The title could have been something along the lines of Leadership Skills: How to Get Both INTO - and OUT of - Trouble! He was known to drive to Northern Wisconsin for breakfast, and then to Iowa for lunch. He loved daytrips and travel, visiting 48 states in his lifetime. He was a very social person, and just about everywhere he went, he would run into someone he knew. He even ran into someone he knew and hadn't seen for quite awhile while he was in Hawaii! For more than 10 years, he made the trip to the Indianapolis 500 race, a trip he always enjoyed with friends. In his later years, he enjoyed sitting on his porch with his beloved cat, Mini, watching the traffic go by, or taking a drive to Bay Point Park to have a snack while watching the river traffic, and keeping in touch with friends and family by initiating a phone call. He delighted in having his daughters accompany him on daytrips and event venues, and attending the events of his great-grandchildren.

Michael enjoyed music of all kinds, but his favorite was old school country music, the kind that was born in Nashville and played at The Grand Ole Opry - the kind where you would find people wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots as they danced to the music. Being the son of a music teacher, he could skillfully play the trombone, clarinet, piano, and guitar. He could tell you anything you wanted to know about music history, or any type of history. If you asked the question, being the history buff he was, he knew the answer.

Mike is survived by his beloved daughters, Heather (Tad Eggenberger) of Bay City, WI; Stephanie of Odanah, WI, and Rachel of Las Vegas, NV; his beloved cat, Mini; Five grandchildren - Korrie (Dan) Szuberski, Kaleb Julian, Michael Gilliland, David (Angel) Daleiden, and Morgan (Aaron) Julian ; Seven great-grandchildren' of whom he was extremely proud, Joseph, Arlo, Lyric, Serenity, Elsie, Jacoby, and Harlow. Cousins Allen White, Lana (Bothum) Schmidtt, Gary Bothum, and Becky (Mark) Szatkowski, Scott Julian, Jeri Walsingham, and Dick Hoffman. Step-children - Tami (Randy) Schoen, Terri (Bob) Biederman, Patty Betterly, Mary, and Jerry (Jane) Werner, and many wonderful friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his ex-wives, Karen and Etta, and many cherished friends and family members. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Maiden Rock Legion, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are preferred to Maiden Rock Cemetery.