Obituaries : Julia Thomsen Ary Primrose

Julia Thomsen Ary Primrose, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed onto heaven on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the age of 102 years old. Julia is now peacefully at rest, buried next to Ezra in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The family will gather to remember and celebrate her life, privately at a later date.
Our Family offer thanks and love to everyone that shared in Julia's long life and please leave any remembrances for the family in the response section.
Julia was born on July 12, 1921, on a farm near Mount Auburn, Iowa to Harry and Julia Thomsen. She had one sibling, an older sister Edna Thomsen (Deerfield). Julia graduated from High School in Mt. Auburn in 1938. She married Ezra Ary on April 14, 1940, in Waterloo, Iowa. Both Julia and Ezra were children of the Depression, and both shared a strong work ethic. When first married, they both worked at a poultry processer in Vinton, and their first home was a converted chicken coop with a dirt floor. Together they set a shared goal to save enough money to move to a home with a real floor, which they both accomplished through working multiple full and part-time jobs, before their first child arrived in 1941.
Julia and Ezra later moved to Cedar Rapids for better employment and Julia then worked for nearly forty years for Collins/Rockwell, retiring at the maximum allowable age of 70. She enjoyed large gardens at their homes in Cedar Rapids and Alburnett, as well as listening to country music, watching westerns, and playing cards. Julia and Ezra also enjoyed traveling to rodeos in their Winnebago bus throughout the US and Canada prior to retirement. They also enjoyed trips to the Grand Ole Opry and visiting National Parks across the country. After retiring they were able to spend several winters relaxing with friends in Lake Wales, Florida. Julia loved the companionship of six miniature poodles throughout her life, but she only had one cat. Julia and Ezra enjoyed 49 years of marriage until Ezra succumbed to Alzheimer's disease in 1989. Several years later, Julia married friend Bill Primrose Sr. on April 15, 1995, and they enjoyed life together until Bill passed away on June 10, 2010.
Julia remained active and lived independently in her own home until the age of 89 and maintained her Iowa Driver's License until age 94. Julia was a prolific reader right up to her death enjoying her daily Gazette newspaper as well as novels. She enjoyed several years of independent living at Village Place and Willow Gardens in Marion, before resettling to Corridor Crossing Place in Cedar Rapids. Julia enjoyed the friendships that she shared in her later years with Friend Tom Pellitier and his family, as well as Friend Leroy Powelka and his family.
Julia's Family wishes to express our loving gratitude for all the Care Givers and Staff that cared for our cherished Matriarch at these locations. Julia loved all of them and enjoyed sharing their frequent hugs.
Julia and Ezra had two daughters and they live on to cherish her life; Patricia Ary Garrett (Gilbert), and Carol Ary Cooper-Covington (Brian); six grandchildren, Geoffrey Garrett (Christine), Gjason Garrett (Robyn), Brian Cooper, Mathew Cooper (Stevi), Stephanie Cooper Bingham (Farrell), and Jonathan Cooper (Lotta); ten great-grandchildren, Heidi McKillip (Mike), Amanda Somers-Lopez (Mark), Sydney Garrett, Tora Cooper, Meya Cooper, Carsyn Cooper, Landyn Cooper, Jordyn Cooper, Cayden Bingham, and Kayla Bingham; three great-great-grandchildren, Trinity McKillip (Scott Eicher), Rosemary McKillip, and Aaron Wallen; two great-great-great-grandchildren, Sarah & Ella Eicher (twins born in 2022).
Julia's only sibling and numerous in-laws have all previously passed but will be waiting to welcome her into Heaven.