I met Julie in our chorus class at Gainesville High School – so long ago. She had so many talents and such a sweet personality that I was drawn to her. Her love and care for her kids and mine kept us in touch for the rest of our lives. May her light shine on.
Julie Schilling
July 16, 1951 ~ March 31, 2026
Born in: Fargo, North Dakota
Resided in: Gainesville, Florida
Resided in: Gainesville, Florida
Julie Renee Larson Schilling, age 74, a longtime resident of Gainesville, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Haven Hospice on March 31st, 2026.
Born in 1951 in Fargo, North Dakota to DeMyles and Janice Larson, Julie moved with her family to Gainesville in 1956. She was a musician who thoroughly enjoyed singing with many groups in Gainesville over the years. She began studying voice privately at the age of 10 with Vere Stiles Richards, continuing after his death with his daughter, Jane Richards Sterrett, and won a full music scholarship to Florida State University. She completed her first two years of college there, culminating with a 6-week experience in Spoleto, Italy at the Festival of Two Worlds with the University Choir of FSU. At the conclusion of her sophomore year, she relocated to her hometown of Gainesville and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Florida. Following her graduation, she embarked on many years of performance in the community, including the Gainesville Civic Chorus, Collegium Musicum (Chamber Singers) and The Willis Bodine Chorale, to name a few. She sang for funerals and weddings in many churches in the Gainesville community.
After her marriage, she became a fulltime wife and mother, enjoying all things related to home management, from cooking and baking to providing secretarial services to her architect husband, Lou. Her children came home from school to fresh bread and cookies several times a week. They and their friends knew to gravitate to the Schilling home for fresh cookies! Julie began working outside the home while her children were in middle school and spent 10 years working as the Administrative Assistant for the national association of Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts – an organization that figured prominently in her family’s life. When she retired from that position, she began working in a secretarial capacity with St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center – which lasted for close to 15 years. She was the administrative assistant for Liturgy, Music and Stewardship during that time and became the Parish Secretary for the last 5 years of her tenure.
Julie was a dedicated member of First Lutheran Church, serving as a soloist, choir member and volunteering with the music director, among other things. She loved sharing her musical and secretarial talents with her church. She was always searching for ways to be helpful to others and brightened every gathering with her…
Julie is predeceased by her parents, her loving husband of 46 years, Lou, her sister, Diane Carlson, and her brother, Bruce Larson. She is survived by her children, Serena Schilling Hatok (George), Louis Norman Schilling II (Shara), Kristin Schilling Caldwell (Michael), and James Franklin Schilling; her brother, Keith Germain Larson of Jacksonville, Florida; three
grandchildren, Joshua Hatok (Kristal), and Jaeden and Serah Caldwell; two great-grandsons, Ian Thomas Hatok and Joshua Brentley Hatok; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the music program of First Lutheran Church or a charity close to your heart in Julie’s memory.
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