Gullickson had love of theater

Julie Gullickson loved the theater, and she loved making costumes.

Gullickson, co-owner of Ralston Costume with her husband, Ron, died unexpectedly Tuesday, shortly after a medical procedure on her thyroid. The mother of three was 48.

Julie Gullickson had been active as a set dresser, props mistress and costumer at the Bellevue Little Theatre for years before buying Ralston Costume. Her costumes were nominated for local theater awards.

“She ate up doing big shows, high school plays or little church programs,” said Mary Boehler, who founded Ralston Costume. Boehler sold her business to the Gullicksons two years ago, about a year after Julie started working there.

Boehler said Gullickson made costumes because she loved it, not because she was getting paid.

Every day Gullickson would come to work and don a hat for the day from among the shop’s large supply.

“She was so fun,” Boehler said. “She’d walk around in a silly hat for the whole day, which caused more fun than you can imagine.”

Jim Schultz, who designs at Ralston Costume, said Gullickson was “absolutely fearless, very original and imaginative, and it was exciting to work with her. She was a very loyal friend.”

Gullickson is survived by her husband, Ron, of Bellevue; sons Colin of Bellevue and Kevin of Lindale, Texas; a daughter, Laurie Palm of Hudson, Wis.; five grandchildren; her mother, Julia Barrett of Omaha; brothers Steve, Larry and Marty, all of Omaha, Barney of Bellevue, and Ray of Orange, Calif.; sisters, Cathy Barrett, Mary Finch, Betty Barnes and Bernie Doerr, all of Bellevue; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Bernard Barrett.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Living Water Church, 1623 Chicago Ave. in Plattsmouth. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the church.

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com

« Metro/Region

Share