Edna Johnson

Edna L. Johnson, age 86 of Janesville, died peacefully on December 21, 2012 at Glenview Assisted Living Center in Shell Lake, Wisconsin.

Memorial services (for both Edna and her husband, Allen who passed away December 7, 2012) will be held on Friday, December 28th at 11:00 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church in Janesville with Rev. Nancy Hansen, officiating. Interment will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Friday in the Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Bricelyn Minnesota.

The Johnson Family will greet family and friends on Thursday, December 27th from 4 to 7 P.M. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, and will continue on Friday morning for one hour prior to services, at church. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts are asked to be directed to Faith Lutheran Church of Janesville, or Glenview Assisted Living Center of Shell Lake, WI.

Edna Lavonne was born on April 1, 1926 to Marie (Voldahl) and James Gaard in rural Bricelyn, Minnesota. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Bricelyn and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Frost. She attended school in Frost and graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1944. After graduation Edna lived and worked in Minneapolis and worked at the offices of Ralston Purina until 1947. On October 19, 1947 she married Allen S. Johnson of Bricelyn, Minnesota. They lived in Bricelyn and Minnesota Lake, Minnesota prior to moving to Janesville in 1955. In 2009 Edna and Allen moved to Cumberland, WI then to Shell Lake, WI in 2011. On October 28 Allen and Edna gathered with family and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. She worked at Birds Eye in Waseca, MN during their early years in Janesville. In 1959 Edna attended Johnson Beauty School in Mankato. She opened her own beauty shop in her home in 1960. Edna's Beauty Shop was in operation for over 50 years. Edna was a Cub Scout Den Mother and helped to start the Boy Scout Chapter in Janesville. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary in Janesville. Edna also loved to play bridge with her many friends. She loved music and especially loved dancing with Allen. She was a charter member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Janesville. Edna was a loving wife and mother who devoted her life to her family. She had a great sense of humor and a willingness to help her friends and her community.

She is survived by her three children: Brad (Bonnie) of Rochester, MN, Stu (Kelly Harms) Johnson of Fort Myers, Florida, Rebecca (Jim) Connell of Shell Lake, WI. She has five grandchildren: Thomas Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Michael Johnson, Matthew Connell, and Jennifer Connell along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband Allen, her parents, her brothers Clifford and Marvin and her sister Evelyn Lowe. Also preceding her in death were nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Blessed be her memory.

Honorary bearers are Edna's grandchildren: Thomas Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Michael Johnson, Matthew Connell, and Jennifer Connell.