Julianne Jordan Mevis

Julianne Jordan Mevis, 87, was born into eternal life on August 10, 2025.

Julianne is survived by daughters Sarah (Michael) Keefe and Molly (Steve) Hannan, grandchildren Eleanor & Charlie Hannan and Danny & Anna Keefe, identical twin sister Suzanne (Thomas) Hess, sisters Mary Beth (John) Lewison and Jennifer Godfrey, and brother John (Bonnie) Jordan. She was preceded in death by her parents, John James “Jack” Jordan and Ruth Sturdivant Littlejohn Jordan, brother Michael Jordan, sister Kathleen Heller, and many dear friends and relatives.

Born on March 31, 1938, in Madison, Wisconsin, she was the oldest of seven children. She spent her childhood in the Madison area, graduating from Edgewood High School. She attended Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and earned a BSE in Art Education.. Her years at Henderson were very special as they allowed her to spend time with extended family who lived in the area. Throughout her life, Julianne continued to take classes in art, graphic design, sewing, quilting, and upholstery. 

Julianne was an exceptional art teacher who worked in public schools in Dallas, Texas, as well as in Ripon and Glendale-River Hills, Wisconsin. She also taught at Catholic schools, including Mary Queen of Heaven in West Allis and Christ King in Wauwatosa. Her art students often received honors at the Scholastic Art Awards and other competitions. Outside of teaching, Julianne was actively involved in several organizations, including the Wauwatosa Junior Woman’s Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as a leader for both 4-H and Girl Scouts. She was also a member of the West Suburban, Wauwatosa, and Pieces of Eight quilt guilds, as well as the St. Camillus craft club.

A lifelong seamstress, Julianne learned to sew at a young age alongside her twin sister, Suzanne. Together, they created custom wardrobes for themselves and their younger siblings. Her sewing skills benefited many as she made clothing for her nieces, Halloween costumes and formal dresses for her daughters, special dresses, including First Communion dresses and christening gowns for her grandchildren, and original art quilts for family and friends. Additionally, Julianne designed beautiful doll clothes for her daughters and later ran a small business crafting perfectly accurate parochial school uniforms and custom First Communion dresses for American Girl dolls. 

Julianne dedicated decades to researching her family history, which included special visits to County Mayo, Ireland, to meet several relatives, as well as a visit to her ancestral home in Thornbury, England.

With her husband, Lee, she was an avid supporter of the arts. They were regular patrons of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Florentine Opera Theater, Skylight Music Theater, Milwaukee Art Museum, and other Milwaukee arts organizations. 

Family was extremely important to Julianne. She eagerly anticipated her regular gatherings with her siblings and the countless weekends spent at their cottage on White Lake with her children and grandchildren. Julianne was a beloved mother, and the Mevis home was always stocked with beautiful dress-up costumes and a seemingly endless supply of art materials. 

She organized the most amazing birthday parties, complete with elaborate backyard scavenger hunts and indoor string mazes for the kids to untangle in the living room. Julianne sewed dresses and pajamas for her daughters, and on one memorable evening, she stayed up late sewing so that when the girls woke up, their favorite dolls were dressed in matching nightgowns.

Although she claimed to have no musical talent, Julianne was always supportive of her daughters’ artistic pursuits, driving them to countless voice, piano, flute, acting, roller skating, and dance lessons. This devotion continued when she became a grandmother. She made quilts for her grandchildren, reupholstered antique chairs for their bedrooms, and babysat whenever needed. Julianne took great pride in her grandchildren and loved hearing about their academic, athletic, musical, and theatrical successes. “Gran” will be dearly missed by her four grandchildren.

Julianne’s daughters are grateful for the expert, patient, and compassionate care she received from the Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, and Hospice staff at St. Camillus. 

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at the St. Camillus Guardian Angel Chapel (located in the East Residence), 10100 West Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Milwaukee Art Museum Education Fund or the organization of your choosing. 

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Julianne Jordan Mevis, please visit our Tribute Store.