Douglas C. Julius

     Douglas C. Julius, 67, died a peaceful death on Friday, June 22, 2007 at Bethesda Hospital-Hospice Unit in Boynton Beach after a courageous battle with diabetes. He was born in Racine on October 21, 1939, the son of the late Charles and Evelyn (nee: Meyers) Julius.

     Family, friends and faith brought joy and guided his life. A devoted and loving husband, father, son, and brother, family was his inspiration. On Sept. 28, 1974, in Lake Forest, IL, he was united in marriage to the former Gail Allen. Doug was such a devoted Packer fan; he and Gail spent their honeymoon at Milwaukee County Stadium at a Packer Game.

     Doug was a 1958 graduate of Washington Park High School. He attended UW-LaCrosse, Racine Teachers College, and graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1967, where he was a TKE. He received his masters degree from Whitewater in 1971.

     Doug had a long and illustrious career with the Racine Unified School District. He started as a teacher at Steven Bull Elementary School, and continued to teach at Goodland, Janes, North Park, and Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary Schools. He became assistant principal at Gilmore Junior High School, under the direction of Mr. Ted Jacobson, who continues to be a devoted friend. He was also the assistant principal at Olympia Brown, Fratt, Knapp, and Red Apple. Doug served as directing principal at Fine Arts, Gifford, Mitchell, and Winslow Elementary Schools. During his career he touched and nourished many young people.

     He was a proud and devoted Kilt. From 1956-1969 he was a drum major and instructor. He performed in many national championships throughout the country; including the Orange Bowl Parade in the 1960’s. He had a passion for the theatre and was very active in the Racine Theatre Guild for over 40 years (on High Street as well as Northwestern Avenue) both acting and backstage. Doug was also a former member of the West Racine Kiwanis Club, the Racine Cemetery Commission, the Racine Symphony Board, the Racine Public Library Board, and the Wisconsin Principals Association. Doug and Gail owned and operated the College Avenue Bed and Breakfast from 1994-1997 during which time they met many wonderful people from around the world.

     Surviving are his wife of 32 years, Gail; their sons, Brad Julius of Boynton Beach, FL and Steven Julius of Chicago; sister, Marlene (Dave) Becker of Davenport, FL; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Claudia (Jerry) Holt of Albuquerque, NM, Brent (Kathy) Allen of Lake Worth, FL; nieces and nephews, Nick (Beth) Becker, Patrick (Melissa) Becker, all of Racine, Brenda (Craig) Johnson of Calabasas, CA, Lainey and Tyler Holt of Albuquerque, NM, Brittney and Brenda Allen of Lake Worth, FL. Other relatives and a host of friends also survive him. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Burt and Jean Allen and his nephew Jeffrey Becker.

     A Memorial Service, celebrating Doug’s life, will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, July 5th; at 1:00 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be held in West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials have been suggested to either the Racine Theatre Guild or the West Racine Kiwanis Scholarship Fund. You may contact Gail at either 561-732-7955 or 9159 Beverly Ct., Boynton Beach, FL 33437.