Julia Koch Tibbitts was born on October 1, 1917 to Otto and Onota (Schaffer) Koch. She was a life-long resident of the Marquette, Michigan area, born and raised in Onota just 25 miles east of Marquette. She later traveled to and graduated from Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Missouri (1936), Ogontz School for Young Ladies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1938), and Northern Michigan University (1965). After her husband's death in 1973, Julia discovered the bulldozers, barges, and large pipes all around Presque Isle. This discovery, her outrage over the situation, and a letter to the local newspaper launched Julia's long journey to protect Presque Isle from development. Julia died on March 12, 2008, at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising, Michigan. She was 90 years old.
From the description of Julia K. Tibbitts papers 1964-1979 1973-1979 (Olson Library, Northern Michigan University). WorldCat record id: 756928862
