Julie Kehl

Julie Ann Kehl was personable, fun, caring, curious and adventurous. She loved simple pleasures: grilled cheese and tomato soup, fountain Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi from Speedway and quiet evenings spent crafting. Dan, her beloved husband, especially adored how she made every place feel like home.

Julie was born August 8, 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Tecumseh, Michigan, where her parents, Mary Lou and Marion Ford, settled. Julie graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1981 where she formed friendships that lasted throughout her life. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University which brought her to Kalamazoo, Mich., and set the course for her lifelong career in social work, caring for senior citizens and others with unwavering compassion. She worked at Bronson Commons in Mattawan. She became widely known there for the four-legged company she kept. Her dog, Bentley, a calming, therapeutic standard poodle accompanied her to work nearly every day.

Julie’s and Dan’s love story began with a blind date suggested by Dan’s brother, John. Dan had been an avid bass tournament fisherman, but as he lovingly put it, “until I met Julie.” Not interested in the lake sport, Julie brought her crafts to work on in the boat while Dan fished. It was a perfect metaphor for their life together — two people with different interests, sharing space, joy and companionship in a way that felt effortless.

Julie and Dan married in Las Vegas in 1998, the beginning of 28 years of marriage filled with laughter, travel and the quiet comforts of everyday life. They traveled widely across the United States, preferring exploration by car as interesting discoveries were always made along the way, Alaskan trips held special meaning for them, visiting family and enjoying the state’s breathtaking beauty.

Julie loved art, felting and taking craft classes at the Paw Paw District Library. She adored parades, Bingo and singing out loud. She had a special fondness for consignment shops and estate and garage sales. She had the incredible gift of gab. She could start a conversation with anyone, and you would have thought they had been friends forever.

Pets were a constant source of joy for Julie. She and Dan shared several cats over the years. Bentley, their beloved standard poodle, passed in the spring of 2026, a profound loss for not only them but the staff and senior residents who loved the dog at Julie’s workplace. Additionally, Julie’s decades of work as a social worker left a legacy of care, dignity and humanity for the many families she supported.

Julie Ann Kehl, 61, of Mattawan died on August 30, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Lou and Marion Ford. Surviving is her husband, Dan Kehl; siblings: Steve (Tracie) Ford, of Kenai, Alaska; Lori (Jeff) Rud, of Juneau, Alaska; Susan (Alan) Szepanski of Traverse City, MI; and many nieces and nephews.

Celebrate Julie’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.