Obituary of Joan A. Johnson

Joan A. Johnson, age 79, of 1436 21st Avenue South, Wisconsin Rapids, died Saturday, June 28, 2014 at the Wisconsin Rapids Care Center, surrounded by her loving family and pastor. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. James Douglas will officiate. Entombment will be at Forest Hill Mausoleum. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 PM at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 10:00 AM until the time of services on Thursday at the church. Joan was born in Wisconsin Rapids on July 28, 1934, to Clarence and Alma (Ziegler) Teske. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952. On September 3, 1955, she married her loving husband of 58 years, Walter (Wally) A. Johnson at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, where she continued her love and faith in the Lord throughout her life. Joan worked for Garrison Handy Clinic, now known as Aspirus Doctors' Clinic. She also was employed for a number of other businesses, and retired from TC Construction in 1983. As Joan and Wally raised their family, they enjoyed years of camping and travel. Together, they took many trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to visit their daughter, and in retirement, spent winter months in North Fort Myers, Florida, hosting friends and family, playing cards, and shopping at the flea markets. Joan also enjoyed her special Canasta Card Club friends, and her Tuesday Pizza Hut Lunch friends. Near and dear to her heart was the time she spent with family, especially attending the activities of her grandchildren as they grew, and most recently, getting to know her great-grandchildren. Joan is survived by her loving husband Wally Johnson of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; daughter, Sally Johnson, Poplar Branch, NC; and sons, Brian (Sue) Johnson, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and Douglas (Kathy) Johnson, Plainfield, WI; brother, Tom (Marion) Teske, Waxahachie, TX; sister, Bette (William) Kohnen, Port Edwards, WI; and sisters-in-law, Judy Teske, Holcombe, WI; Edna Haferman, and Elaine (Bill) Wittrock, Wisconsin Rapids, WI. She will also be sadly missed by granddaughters, Jill Johnson (Drew Sherman), St. Paul, MN; Molly (Nikk) Dickerson, Owatonna, MN; Mandy Johnson, River Falls, WI; and step-grandchildren, Michelle (Chuck) Fuehrer, Plainfield, WI; Aaron (Heather) Salisbury, Wausau, WI; Amber Salisbury, Sacramento, CA; and Shane Salisbury, Plainfield, WI. She is further survived by her special great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by parents, Alma and Clarence Teske, mother- and father-in-law, Walter O. and Frieda (Fuelle) Johnson, brother, David Teske, brother-in-law, David Kauth, brother- and sister-in-law, William and Elmira Schroeder, and brother-in-law, Alvin Haferman. Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Her wonderful smile and terrific sense of humor will be deeply missed.