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Obituary: Karen Johnson

May 26, 1952 – April 2, 2019

Karen Johnson, 66, of Ridgeway, Wisconsin, died April 2. She was born in Sturgeon Bay to the late Clyde and Patricia (Behringer) Christoferson.

After graduating from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1970, Karen moved to Madison. While working at Central Colony, Karen met her future husband, Terry Johnson, when his sister Kris introduced the two while visiting the family farm. After a short engagement, Karen and Terry were married on October 23, 1971.

She will always be remembered for her great smile and big laugh. Karen was a doting mother and grandmother who especially loved spending time with her family, whether it be cheering them on at an event or preparing one of her special meals. After retiring from Lands’ End, she loved tending to her birds and flowers and spending time “back” in Door County and on the beach in Florida.  

Karen will be sadly missed by her loving husband, Terry; their two children Tia (Jeremy Walsh) Johnson and Michael (Toni) Johnson; her grandchildren, Natalie, Nathan, Ty and Jenna. She is further survived by two brothers, Dan (Kathy) Christoferson and Steve (Audrey Forslund) Christoferson; her sister Lou Ann (Al) Behling; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Kim.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Friday, April 12, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Ridgeway, Wisconsin. Fr. Stephen Petrica will officiate. Friends may call on April 11, 4-8 pm, at the Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers Funeral Home in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and on April 12, 10-10:45 am, at the church. A eulogy for Karen will be read at 10:45 am at the church. The graveside prayer service will be on Saturday, April 13, 12 pm, at Hainesville Cemetery in Sturgeon Bay.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the family of Karen Johnson for donations to local charities.