Julian Brian Kittelson, 19, of International Falls, Minnesota, died on February 27, 2022.
Julian was born October 11, 2002 at Falls Memorial Hospital in International Falls to parents, Andy and JoJean Kittelson.
He attended Falls High School and was a member of the Class of 2021.
Julian was employed with NCS, Directional Driller for Fiber Optic Installation. He loved his job and those he worked with.
Julian loved adventure and spent a lot of time outdoors. He loved camping, fishing, and wheelers. He was creative and used ingenuity at a very young age. When he was younger his best friend Alex and cousin Kalan used to make fishing poles out of water bottles, sticks, line and a hook. And they would go out on floaties all day where they would catch sunnies while camping at Bass Lake. Julian also spent a lot of time at his Grandpa Cam’s cabin on Shoal Lake with his grandparents, Cam & Jodie, sister, Jenaya, and cousins, Jayden and Jacksi.
One day while visiting his grandparents Brian and Debbie, Julian, or Opie as his grandpa Brian would call him, and his best friend Alex found an old kneeboard in Julian’s grandparent’s neighbors’ garbage. They removed it from the trash and headed out to the lake with it where they would pull each oth-er behind Alex’s adventure boat. Those boys spent countless hours, days and even years riding that old kneeboard. Julian and Alex would often call Grandpa Brian and ask if they could come over and build stuff in his workshop. His grandpa never said no, and would jokingly tell them “just make sure you don’t bleed all over the place”. The boys spent hours building stuff but nothing ever did leave grandpas workshop.
As Julian got older, he turned into a daredevil who loved anything with speed. He started out young with power wheels but quickly graduated to an orange KTM dirt bike at age 11 that his dad bought him for his golden birthday. Shortly thereafter his dad also got an orange KTM dirt bike and they had matching helmets and gear. They learned to ride together, and boy did they have fun. Mom was a nervous wreck every time they left the house. When Julian grew out of bikes, he moved on to snowmobiles, three wheelers, and four wheelers and rode those to the fullest, which wasn’t long. And every time his parents came home with a new toy of their own, they jokingly told him “Don’t even look at it”. If that boy didn’t have a cast on one arm, it was on the other or both. That boy certainly knew how to keep his parents on their toes.
Although Julian didn’t go to school for welding, he was known for his welding skills which led his dad into purchasing them a new welder. If his buddies needed pipes on their trucks, they knew exactly where to go. His parents can’t even count how many kids came over to the garage to work on their trucks and every truck that left the garage left louder than it was when it came in. Not only were those boys enjoying working on their vehicles, but it also led to so many good times and memories made with friends.
Julian’s stories don’t end with wheelers, trucks, and need for speed, there are so many other stories going untold.
As much of a wild card he was, he also had a huge heart and a soft spot for his sister “Chuck” as he called her, but it was in the sweetest of ways. She also adored her brother; he meant the absolute world to her. She would often make him special gifts and cards, all homemade with love of course.
Julian always lived for the moment and lived life to the fullest. He was loved by so many people. Julian could walk into a room and put a smile on anyone’s face. Between friends and traveling for work, Julian was a very busy young man. His parents and sister always looked forward to him traveling back home from work so they could spend a little time with him and have a home cooked meal before he was out the door to hang with his friends.
Julian was preceded in death by his cousin, Derek White; great grandpa, Jerome (Jack) Schwartz; great grandfather, Damon White; great grandparents, Howard & Delores Kittelson; great grandparents, Inez & Dick Hardwig; and great grandmother, Nancy Erickson.
He is survived by his parents, Andy and JoJean Kittelson; sister, Jenaya Kittelson (“Chuck” as Julian called her); grandparents, Brian & Debbie Kittelson, Cameron and Jodie Hardwig, Chris & Susan Bradburn; great grandparents, Elaine Schwartz, Jeanette White, Dick & Pat Bradburn; aunts, uncles, and cousins, auntie Jeena (John) Schmit, cousins, Jayden, Jacksi, Skyler & Sawyer; uncle, Nick Kittelson, cousins, Tori & Lily Kittelson; uncle, Ryan Kittelson, cousins, Rylee & Clair; uncle, Adam Kittelson, cousin, Kristen Kittelson; auntie, Kelly Kittelson, cousins, Kalan & Alayna Kittelson; auntie, Deanna Kittelson; uncle, Noah Ginter; uncle, Jacoby Baker; and bonus relatives, Hank and Sheila Wiedemann; special friends, Alex Bissonnette, Graci Bissonnette, Connor Tymenski, Jesse Forsythe, Justin Piekarski, Maddy Lorenson, Asher Belanger, Shane Zaren, Evan Woolsey and so many more.
Julian is also survived by his beloved pets, his yellow lab, Sadie (Julian was Sadie’s boy); and his three cats, Squeezle, Millie, and Leo.
Julian will forever be remembered and always have a special place in all our hearts. Julian was and will forever be his parents’ baby boy, their pride and joy and their whole world.
Julian, we love you so much
Love, Mom and Dad & Chuck
A memorial service will be conducted at the Evangelical Covenant Church in International Falls on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 1:00 pm with visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will follow.
Condolences may be left on www.greenlarsen.com
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.
