Julie Louise Caples of Mundelein passed away on Sunday July 17 after a lengthy battle with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
Julie was born in Las Vegas NV on November 25, 1968, the daughter of Ron and Jeanne Caples. Julie grew up in the Minneapolis MN area, always exhibiting an adventurous, energetic, and quirky spirit. She attended Oak Hill Montessori, Lake Country School, St. Paul Open School and Edina High School, where she developed lifelong passions for art and languages.
Her aptitude for languages led Julie to join the U.S. Army in 1986, where she became proficient in Russian as part of the Army lingustics program. Stationed at Fort Bragg NC, Julie qualified as a paratrooper and worked in Military Intelligence. She participated in Operation Desert Storm (first Gulf War) in 1991, and later in Operation Provide Comfort in 1992, as a psychological operations specialist.
In 1992 Julie was chosen to particpate in the Green-to-Gold Scholarship program, which allowed qualifed enlisted personnel to attend college and re-enter the Army as commissioned officers. She graduated cum laude from Methodist College in Fayetteville NC in 1995, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Thereafter, Julie was stationed in various postings in Germany, Bosnia, and Arizona (where daughter Anya Caples was born in 1999). H
aving been promoted to Captain, Julie was assigned to a command position at the military’s school for codebreakers and firefighters at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo TX. She concluded her military career at Fort Sheridan IL, retiring as a Major in 2011.
Julie married her husband Duncan Brown in 2011 and the family made its home in Vernon Hills and later Mundelein IL.
After retirement from the Army, Julie pursued her education in art at the College of Lake County.
Julie was a passionate artist, photographer, and bicyclist. Throughout her life, she volunteered at animal shelters, adopting many creatures into her home.
For over a year, Julie shared the progression of her condition with a Facebook group of family and friends. Through this process, many became aware of IBC for the first time. Julie developed strong bonds with others suffering from the same ailment. These became (and remain) her “IBC Sisters”.
Family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues gathered at Julie’s home on July 19 & 20 to celebrate her life and to share sorrow, memories, and joy.
Julie is survived by her husband Duncan Brown and their daughter Anya Caples of Mundelein; her mother Jeanne Caples of Omaha NE; brother and sister-in law Rob & Michelle Caples of Omaha; brother and sister-in-law Joel & Barbara Caples of Omaha; and nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and other extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her father Ron Caples. Julie requested that any memorials be made to www.TheIBCNetwork.org and www.IBCResearch.org
From Wenban Funeral Home