On May 1, 2026 on a beautiful spring day, the sun shining, light clouds in the sky, birds chirping outside her window, Julie Ann Reese passed away peacefully, reuniting with her mother and father in heaven. She was held and hugged until her final breath, surrounded by family and friends who had spent their entire lives loving her dearly. Julie was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 16, 1949, to William and Donna (Moeller) Reese. She was the oldest of three children, her younger brothers Mike and Tim Reese. She attended Diller High School, graduating class of 1967. Shortly after high school she married Jerome Topil, and fulfilled her life-long dream of becoming a mother through adoption. She welcomed her daughter, Jody Ann, in July 1973, through Nebraska Children’s Home.

She tragically lost her mother and father in her early 20s, which affected her for the rest of her life. Julie, Mike and Tim (and their spouses), leaned on each other for family, love and support. She remarried in 1983, to Kenneth Kempton. She took her sadness from grief and used it to become a mother to all through daycare for over 20 years and becoming a foster parent to children in need of loving homes. The only thing Julie loved as much as motherhood was becoming a grandmother in the spring of 1993 and a great grandmother in 2011. She had 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. All of whom were the most important people in her life, and she poured her love into them.

Julie loved to sing and socialize. Her favorite pastime was karaoke nights and spending nights out with friends, well into her 60s and 70s. She also loved garage sales and thrift stores, and nothing delighted her more than finding a hidden treasure or a good bargain.

She was close with her best friend of 50 years, Cindy, who took the best care of Julie in her final days and was by her side when she passed away. Julie loved animals and always had a pet dog and cat (often multiple) throughout her life. Raising the children around her to love animals as much as she did. She loved to bake for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren while singing songs about love and friendship. She loved to host and attend regular family and friend get togethers and holidays. Julie was very proud of her nephews and their accomplishments. She loved and was always protective of her brothers.

Julie was a two-time breast cancer survivor, but cancer ultimately took over in the end. She first fought cancer in 2008 and won. She again had to fight cancer in 2016. In 2026, cancer ultimately took her life, but did not win. If you beat cancer, it dies. If cancer takes your life, it still dies. Cancer always loses. She fought relentlessly to be there for the ones she loved. In her final moments she was told that it was okay to finally rest from the battle she had fought so tirelessly for nearly 6 months, and she was taken to heaven in her mother’s warm embrace.

She is survived by her daughter, Jody Topil; grandchildren, Jazmin(Pinto) and Torrey Samland, Justice(Pinto) and Micheal Minter, Marco Pinto, Malik Pinto (partner Crystal Gomez) and Kelly Pinto; and great grandchildren Forest, Sage, William, Sofia, Selena, Sabrina, Micheal, and Amari. No one ever had anything bad to say about her and she was deeply loved by all who had the privilege to meet her.