Julie R. Zielie-Gaffer

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN  56001
(507) 388-2202


Julie Rae Zielie-Gaffer, age 61, of Mankato, died Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato.

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., with a time of sharing starting at 6 p.m.,Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at Mankato Mortuary  Memorials may be given to White Earth Reservation, Nature Conservancy, Family Sharing Tree in the greater Mankato area, or the KMSU Shuffle Function Program.

Julie was born April 6, 1955, in Eau Claire, WI, to Llewellyn and Mary (Toner) Zielie.  She was a 1973 graduate of Elk Mound High School in Wisconsin.  Julie received her undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Stout.  She was united in marriage to Christopher Rhys Gaffer on July 31, 1991, in Mankato.  Julie was employed for 15 years at the Minnesota State Hospital in St. Peter.  She enjoyed researching her family genealogy, flowers, gardening, arts and crafts, playing Scrabble, and working on projects around the house.

Julie is survived by her husband, C. Rhys Gaffer of Mankato; son, Adam Zielie of Minneapolis; two sisters, Roxy (Robert) Sherer of Grand Portage and Cindy (Tom) Kopp of Elk Mound, WI; two brothers, Dan Zielie of Elk Mound, WI and Terry (Tokiko) Zielie of Port Charlotte, FL; also many nieces, nephews, and close friend, Rae Ann Kozitza of Mankato.

She was preceded in death by her parents in 1984.