Julie Maria Bright

Julie M. Bright, age 68, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa met her Savior on January 28, 2026. 

Julie's family will be holding a private family service. A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 2-4:00 p.m. at the Sioux Rapids Fire Station. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements. 

Julie Maria Miller was born on February 19, 1957, the second child of Jack and Wanda (Kraft) Miller in Algona, Iowa. She spent the early years of her life moving often from town to town in Iowa with her family to accommodate her father’s career. When Julie began school, she attended kindergarten through second grade in Newell, Iowa. Her father then took a job as a manager of a telephone cooperative in Winthrop, Iowa, and after the family moved, she attended East Buchanan school from third through eighth grade. She was active in 4-H, dance, and baton twirling. 

In the spring of 1971, the family moved to a farm outside of Sioux Rapids, where she attended high school and later graduated from Sioux Rapids Community School. Julie then continued her education at Buena Vista University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1979. She started her 34-year teaching career in 1979 with Sioux Rapids Rembrandt. She continued teaching with Sioux Central until she retired in 2013 to help with her most precious possessions, her grandchildren. 

Julie was united in marriage to her best friend, Jon Bright, on June 12, 1981. To this union two children were born, Kirk and Kayla. Jon and Julie made their home in Sioux Rapids throughout their entire married life as she taught school, helped run Jon’s construction business, and lovingly raised their family. Julie’s greatest earthly treasure was her family. She loved helping them, having them around, and cooking for them. Watching her children and grandchildren grow and spending time with her husband Jon, especially at the lakes at their home in Okoboji was the best life she could imagine, and she was very blessed. Simple things made her happy—the love of her family and friends and her private faith in God. 

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Wanda Miller, and her in-laws, Elmer and Fern Bright. 

Left to cherish Julie’s memory is her husband Jon of 44 years; her children and grandchildren, Kirk and Mallory Bright and their children Boden, Tristan, Jaida, and Archer; Kayla Tjaden and her children Rush and Pres; Stephen Tjaden; her siblings, Jon (Dawn) Miller and Dave (Lisa) Miller; her brother-in-law, Don (Shirley) Bright; her sister-in-law, Becky Roberts; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

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