Juleen Marie (Harren) Scegura, age 69, of Holdingford, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, February 6 in the warmth of her own home, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She faced her illness with strength, grace, and unwavering faith. Her final moments reflected the same love, gentleness and resilience that defined her entire life. A Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, February 11th at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Anna, with Rev. Fr. Gregory Mastey officiating. Interment followed at the parish cemetery.
She was born on August 28, 1956, in Alexandria, Minnesota, to Edmund and Irene (Herickhoff) Harren, and was the oldest and only daughter of eight children. Juleen grew up in rural Elrosa and rural Freeport. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School from 1962 to 1964. After the family moved to the Harren “home place,” she attended Upsala Public Schools, graduating in 1974. Juleen continued her education at St. Mary’s Junior College in Minneapolis and St. Cloud Business College. On October 1, 1977, she married Raymond J. Scegura at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in rural Freeport. Together, they made their home in the Holdingford area, where they spent their entire married life and raised two wonderful daughters. Over the years, Juleen worked at Fingerhut, Mother of Mercy Nursing Home, Holdingford Elementary School, and Minnesota Public Radio. She ultimately devoted 38½ years to Saint John’s University, serving in the Institutional Advancement Office. Her roles included Office Coordinator for the Annual Giving Office, Planned Giving Office, IA Communications Office, and finally the Development Office. While working full time, Juleen completed her undergraduate degree in Theology, graduating in 2015—an achievement she was especially proud of. Juleen was a devoted member of Immaculate Conception Church in St. Anna. She was active in Christian Women, served as a lector and cantor, sang in the choir, taught Faith Formation for many years, and assisted with Confirmation preparation. Her faith quietly shaped how she lived and served others. Juleen was strong and confident in her faith, and she was always eager to share it with her children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. She took every opportunity to teach and talk about her faith, remaining steadfast and determined to share it even in her final days.
She loved to read and enjoyed being part of several book clubs. Juleen also gave generously of her time to her community, serving as Treasurer of the Holding Township Board from 1997 until her passing. Each summer, she and Ray raised a large garden, and she found joy in canning and freezing the bountiful harvest. Juleen was a skilled seamstress throughout her life—you could often find her patching jeans, mending zippers, sewing clothes for her daughters, or altering prom and wedding dresses for her children, grandchildren and several nieces. After retirement, she discovered a love for quilting and crocheting, continuing to create with the same care and attention she brought to everything she did.
She loved to travel and enjoyed exploring new places with Ray, with her daughters, and through tour groups. Her travels took her to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Poland, Canada, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and 26 states across the United States. This past summer she was able to check a final item off her bucket list by visiting Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, the only approved apparition site of the blessed Virgin Mary in the US. Family history was close to Juleen’s heart. She assisted her mother in writing the Herickhoff, Boecker, Rausch, and Stoermann family history books and helped update the Harren family tree, preserving generations of stories for her extended family.
Survivors include her husband, Ray Scegura of Holdingford, children: Katherine (Mark) Nienaber of Swanville and Marie (Mitch) Pangerl of St. Stephen, grandchildren: Adam, Anthony, and Monica Nienaber and Victoria and Elinor Pangerl. Siblings John (Lois) Harren, Barry (Colleen) Harren, Gregg (Nancy) Harren, David (Kathy) Harren, Michael (Shelly) Harren and James (Cheryl) Harren. In-laws: Sue Toenyan, Pat (Linus) Luethmers, Ron (Jane) Scegura, Syl Geise, Theresa (Tom) Studniski, David Scegura, Peter (Kathy) Scegura, Diane (Leroy) Hartung and James (Tammy) Scegura and many nieces and nephews.
Juleen was preceded in death by her infant brother Bruce Harren, parents Edmund and Irene Harren, In-laws Ludwig and Teckla Scegura, Mary Geise, John Scegura and Claude Toenyan.
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