Kathleen Louise (Elliott) Johnson passed away on August 25, 2010 at the age of 70.  She was born in Frederic, Wisconsin on August 22, 1940 to George and Violet Elliott.  After moving to Minneapolis during her childhood, she graduated as a valedictorian of over 400 students from Washburn High School and later attended the University of Minnesota.

Kathy married Dennis Lee Johnson on July 2, 1960 and just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  As newlyweds, Kathy and Denny resided in Minneapolis where Kathy was very active in the Presbyterian Church and the PTA after having her two children, Larry and Heidi.  Her family then moved to Tomahawk, Wisconsin where they owned an operated several businesses, including Denny’s and the Uptown restaurants (1970-1979), the Old Towne Mall (1986-2000), and the Old Towne Pub (1988-1999).  Kathy was a member of the original planning committee and board of Yesterfest.  She was also an active member of the United Methodist Church of Spirit, Wisconsin.  She and her family built their dream home on the Johnson homestead farm in the Spirit area.

In 2000, Kathy and Denny moved to New Richmond to be close to their two granddaughters, Emily and Hannah.  Kathy quickly became very involved in numerous church and community activities, including the New Richmond Heritage Center, various committees within the United Methodist Church, and volunteering at the elementary schools.

Kathy, a loving wife, caring mother, and devoted grandmother is survived by her husband, Dennis Johnson, her daughter, Heidi (Casey) Swetlik, her son Lawrence Johnson, and her two granddaughters, Emily and Hannah Swetlik.  She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Violet Elliott.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the United Methodist Church in New Richmond on Saturday, August 28th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm with reflections on her life at 4PM.  Anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers may do so to either the New Richmond Heritage Center/Preservation Society or the United Methodist Church of New Richmond. A second Celebration of Life will be on Friday September 3rd from 3 until 6PM at the Spirit United Methodist Church in Spirit, Wisconsin. Funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes of Hudson and Baldwin.