Obituary: Donna Louise Johnson

Donna Louise Johnson

Donna Louise Johnson died July 13, 2016.

Born to John and Verna (Sperber) McCosky on Nov. 6, 1930, Donna lived in Door County her entire life. Secretarial skills learned at Sturgeon Bay HS helped her find work with a Naval Architectural firm and the local District Attorney as a young woman. Married on May 1st in 1954 to Karl H. Johnson, she moved to Sister Bay to begin her life and family on the farm that became her home for over 60 years. A member of Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Donna taught Sunday school and was a soprano in the choir for many years. Raising cattle, crops and 6 daughters kept Donna busy for a long time but in her 40s she began working for her good friends and neighbors, Kathy and Don Ray, at Kellstrom-Ray Real Estate. She enjoyed working with the Rays and their associates for many years until Rheumatoid Arthritis made doing her job difficult. Although she had limitations, Donna loved visiting with friends and family and going on road trips around the USA and Canada with her husband. A voracious reader, Donna would send Karl to the library every week, exhausting her favorite authors. She will be remembered by all as a quiet and kind woman with a beautiful smile that she shared readily with all.

Donna is survived by her husband Karl of 62 years; her sister Leatrice (Toots) Klaubauf of Green Bay; their 6 daughters, Suzi Hass of Sister Bay, Patty (Dan) Burniece of Maple Grove MN, Peggy (John) Mroczynski of Pulaski, Cindy (Gene) Smith of Oconto Falls, Linnae Johnson of Pulaski and Mary Kittredge of Pulaski; 12 grandchildren and 3 Great-grandchildren – Peter (Michelle) and Annah Hass; Raina, Iris and Tait Burniece; Chloe Mroczynski; Brandon (Audra- Addison, Weston, Nolan), Logan and Danielle Smith; Masoudae Rezvani; Derek and Seth Kittredge. She was preceded in death by one infant son – Peter John Johnson, her parents, In-Laws Henry and Agnes Johnson, Ed Klaubauf, Astrid and Ed King, Oscar and Carolyn Johnson and George and Ruth Jischke; son-in-law Greg Hass and Masoud Rezvani and very recently, a nephew, Corwin Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Ellison Bay WI on Friday, August 5th at 1 pm, fellowship to follow. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Bornemann’s Senior Communities and Unity Hospice, for their care and devotion to Donna during her final weeks.

Memorial gifts can be given to the Sister Bay Public Library at PO Box 347, Sister Bay WI 54234 or to Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church PO Box 27, Ellison Bay WI, in her honor.