Julia Thorsness

Apr 8, 1958 -

Sep 9, 2020

Julia Marie (Rosin) Thorsness, 62 years old, joined loved ones in heaven on Sept. 9, 2020, at her home. Julia was born in Yakima, Wash., on April 8, 1958. She attended Pacific Lutheran University where she earned a B.S. in social work. Following graduation, she married the love of her life, Jim Thorsness, and they drove up the Alcan Highway to begin their life in Anchorage, Alaska. Julia and her husband built a cabin on Big Lake and the Kenai River, where she enjoyed cozy fires and playing games on her Kindle. When not at the cabin she loved traveling the United States, many trips to Washington and Hawaii, and cooking meals for friends and family including her famous cherry cobbler. Her career included working as the Program Coordinator, Comprehensive Cancer Control for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services from which she retired in 2018. Even in retirement she continued to stay busy including being a mentor to students in UAA's social work program and running a support group for families with muscular dystrophy. Retirement mainly included watching the 4th quarter of Seahawk games, playing computer puzzle games, and lots of coffee and coconut creamer.

She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Thorsness of Anchorage; son, Tim Thorsness of Anchorage; brother, Mark (Trina) Rosin of Longview, Wash.; sister, Celeste (Leigh) Stubbs of Seattle, Wash.;brother, John (Teri) Rosin of Kent, Wash.; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Dan) Howe of Vancouver, Wash.; brother-in-law, Richard Greenup of Boise, Idaho; sister-in-law, Trudy (Curt) Lund of Bellingham, Wash.; nephews, Connor Rosin, Dave Howe, Craig Howe, Christopher Lund, John Lund, Stephen Lund; and nieces, Kaelyn Rosin and Anna Crane. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Thorsness; parents, Edward "Gizz" and Margaret Rosin; sister-in-law, Carol Greenup; and niece, Sara Greenup.

Donations in her memory can be made to Food Bank of Alaska and American Red Cross.