Julie Cain

Julie Patricia Cain, 68, of Worthington, MN passed away on Wednesday November 5th at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD.

1. Julie was born on October 11, 1957 in Asheville, NC to Robert (Bob) Cain, a radio broadcaster and Marie
2. (Gasahl) Cain. Her father’s career, which included a position at the CNN news desk, resulted in the family
3. moving many times during Julie’s childhood. Julie loved living in Rhode Island before settling in South Dakota
4. and graduating from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls in 1975. She met Bob Wratz, a guitar player and singer
5. in the local band “Starchild” and they married on December 11, 1977. They had two sons, Ryan and
6. Christopher. Through Christopher and Kari (Nichols) she had two grandchildren, Thomas and Charlie, whom
7. she adored.
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9. Her son Ryan was diagnosed with autism at an early age and Julie became a tireless advocate for the rights of
10. autistic children and their families in South Dakota. She co-founded an autism awareness foundation, wrote
11. articles and took her case to the legislature and the press. She was also a foodie who enjoyed cooking and
12. anyone who knew Julie knew she was a fan of Irish creme liqueur! (Especially Bailey’s and Five Farms)
13. Julie is preceded in death by her father Bob Cain.
14. 
    
15. Julie is survived by her sons Ryan Wratz and Christopher (Kari Nichols) Wratz, mother Marie Spaulding,
16. brothers John Cain and Bob Cain, sister Stephanie Cain, uncle John Gasahl, grandchildren Thomas and
17. Charlie Wratz and former husband and friend Bob Wratz.
18. 
    
19. Julie struggled with serious health issues for more than a decade, yet she remained brave and sweet. Her
20. family would like to give a special thanks to her caretakers in Worthington and extend our sincere thanks to the
21. staff at Ava’s House for their care and professionalism.