Julie Evelyn Nygaard

Julie Evelyn Erickson Nygaard was born on February 12, 1942, in Jamestown, New York, and spent her early years on her family’s dairy farm in Ashville, New York, surrounded by her Swedish parents, Stan and Evelyn Erickson, and grandparents. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sister, Lynette Erickson.

After graduating from high school, Julie’s faith led her to Chicago, where she enrolled at West Suburban College of Nursing, then affiliated with Wheaton College. The program allowed students to live on-site while serving in clinical roles and pursuing their studies. Julie loved nursing, especially caring for babies and children, and began her career at Hinsdale Hospital.

During those years, she developed a love for suburban life and eventually settled in Westmont, Illinois, where she raised her daughter, Laurel Stiller. She served as a nurse manager for three plants at Johnson & Johnson before being encouraged by a medical supplier to consider a role in medical equipment sales, pivotal suggestion that shaped the rest of her career.

Julie discovered great fulfillment in the business side of serving hospitals and nurses. While completing her bachelor’s degree at Elmhurst College, she advanced her new career, eventually managing major accounts such as Baxter Medical. At Baxter’s headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, she was selected as the first Director of Health and Safety, pioneering health and wellness programs well before they became common in corporate America.

Her success at Baxter led to her recruitment by Quaker Oats in downtown Chicago, where she developed nationally recognized employee wellness initiatives. Her work was honored during the Reagan administration with a prestigious award presented by U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

In 1983, Julie met the love of her life, Hal Nygaard, on a flight home from Hawaii. They married in 1986 in Oak Brook, Illinois, and shared 39 years together. They first made their home in Westmont, IL where Hal had lived years before, then moved to downtown Chicago, embracing city living in a high-rise condominium beginning in 1991. In 1998, after Julie’s retirement from Quaker Oats, they relocated to Pleasanton, California, where they enjoyed 23 years of West Coast living, weekly farmers’ markets, and time with family as they helped care for Julie’s parents during their later years.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Julie and Hal moved to Hudson, Ohio, to be closer to family. There, they embraced the joy of being near her daughter, Laurel (Mike), stepson Michael Nygaard (Diane), grandchildren Matt (Hannah), Caroline, Abigail, and Sarah (Jesse), and great-grandchildren Ollie and Izzy.

Julie’s faith was central to her life. She was active in the churches she attended over the years, most recently at Christ Community Chapel in Hudson, Ohio. She will be remembered for her radiant smile, her pioneering spirit in her profession, her generosity, and her unwavering devotion to her family and faith.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Community Chapel, 750 W. Streetsboro Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Wheaton Fund at Wheaton College, honoring Julie’s formative years at West Suburban College of Nursing. Donations may be made online at https://www.wheaton.edu/giving/the-wheaton-fund/.

Services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.