CAMDEN — Julie Drinkwater Landwehr, 56, died at her home on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, with her family by her side after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

Born in Camden on June 20, 1963, she was the daughter of Walter and Glenna (Rollins) Drinkwater and was a member of the Class of 1981 at Camden-Rockport High School.

On July 7, 1984, she married Peter Landwehr, of Appleton, at the First Congregational Church in Camden. They made their home at the Landwehr Farm on Appleton Ridge, and raised their sons, Ryan and Adam, there. In recent years, Julie built a home in Camden to be closer to work and family. Throughout her life, Julie enjoyed many summer days at the Drinkwater family camp on Coleman Pond, in Lincolnville, and the Landwehr camp on Sennebec Pond, in Appleton. She was happiest floating around the pond and basking in the sun, cold drink in hand.

Julie enjoyed a fulfilling career as a hairdresser, a profession she imagined for herself at a very young age. She completed cosmetology studies at Head Hunters School of Hair Design in Portland and went on to earn her barber’s license, as well. Julie was a fixture at Eric’s Barber Shop in downtown Camden for the past 35 years, and in that time, she developed an extremely loyal following of customers, many of whom became friends. Julie’s gift with barber shears was only outmatched by her everyday acts of kindness which she granted with pleasure and without hesitation to anyone who was down on their luck.  

Julie was a role model for many who dealt with illness and adversity, though she never chose to let these struggles define her. She was simply too busy cheering on her sons, daughter-in-law, nieces and nephews in all their endeavors; too happy seeking bargains at yard sales, local thrift shops, and on Christmas shopping expeditions. She was an extraordinary prankster in the most fun and mischievous sense and a master of disguises and accessories of all kinds, from nylon stockings to rabbit teeth. No birthday was complete without a phone call from Julie and the singing birthday bear. She took up golf as an adult, at first to spend time with her father, and later to satisfy her competitive nature. She remained close with many of her childhood friends, enjoying adventures close to home and through travel. Procrastination was not in Julie’s vocabulary; her word of choice was ‘hope.’

Above all, Julie cherished moments with her family and friends, and they loved her right back. “Join in for Julie,” a recent fundraising dinner and auction staged by her friends, drew more than 500 people together for an afternoon to celebrate the life of this amazing woman. She was humbled and grateful to know that she could harness the power of community in such a profound way. At last, Julie is cancer-free and still shining her warmth down upon us.

Surviving is her husband, Peter Landwehr; her mother, Glenna Drinkwater; her sons, Ryan Landwehr and Adam Landwehr and his wife Elise; two brothers, Kurt Drinkwater and his wife Amy, and Todd Drinkwater and his wife Kendra; mother-in-law, Joan Landwehr; sisters-in-law, Monica Cleveland, and Nina Hutchins and husband Darryl, and Cindy Landwehr; brother-in-law, Paul Landwehr and wife Debra; aunts and uncles, Harold and Dot Drinkwater, Maxine Simmons, and Scott and Sandra Rollins; nieces and nephews, Evan, Addie, Morgan, Sage, and Lucas Drinkwater; and many cousins.

Julie was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Jeffrey Landwehr, and her father, Walter Drinkwater.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, February 6, from 4 - 6 p.m., at the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.

There will be a Memorial Service followed by a reception Friday, February 7, at 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church UCC, 55 Elm Street, Camden with the Rev. Dr. Ute Molitor officiating. 

If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the Shields Mission Fund c/o First Congregational Church UCC. 

Condolences and memories may be shared by visiting Julie’s Book of Memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.