Patti Ann Johnson, 62, of Prescott, passed away on November 18, 2024, after a brave battle with cancer that began just a month ago. Born on November 28, 1961, in Red Wing, Minnesota, Patti was the daughter of Donald and Marvis (Stokke) Johnson. She grew up in Prescott, where she proudly graduated from Prescott High School as part of the Class of 1980. Always eager to learn, she pursued her passion for beauty at Hastings Cosmetology School and soon found herself working at a place that would become her second home—3M Manufacturing. Patti worked at 3M for an impressive 39 years, where she was known as a dedicated and hard-working operating manufacturer.
But Patti’s talents didn’t stop there. In her younger years, she trained as a firefighter and became the first woman to serve on the Prescott Fire Department, following in the footsteps of her father, Don, who had served there for years. Patti didn’t just stop with firefighting; she went on to earn her certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and also worked as a firefighter for 3M.
As dedicated as she was to her work, Patti loved to explore the world beyond her job. Thanks to her hard-earned paychecks, she traveled extensively—visiting all 50 states and 11 European countries, making memories that would last a lifetime. Some of her best adventures were shared with her two sons, the joys of her life. Patti also had a vibrant social circle that included her “Gorgeous Grannies” lunch group, the Cranberry Fest Girls, and her RV camping buddies, all of whom brought endless laughter and unforgettable memories. Patti’s love for animals was unmatched, and at times her house resembled a zoo with dogs, cats, birds, and fish. More recently, nothing made her smile bigger than spending time with her sons and her two adorable grandchildren, Emily and Louis. The giggles and antics of the little ones brought out her mischievous side, and she’d shower them with fun toys—and sometimes treat herself to a few too!
Patti Ann Johnson will live on in the hearts of her sons, Justin (and his wife, Laura) and Jacob; her grandchildren, Emily and Louis; her mother, Marvis Johnson; her sister, Linda (Paul) Seifert; her brother, Scott (Casie) Johnson; and her nieces and nephews, Gary (Rachel) Seifert, Cory (Megan) Seifert, and Clay (Lauren) Seifert, along with their families. Patti was welcomed with open arms by her father, Donald, upon her passing.
A Celebration of Life is being planned and more details will follow once available. Her final resting place will be somewhere special, a reflection of all the places that brought her so much joy. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be used to further her passions and may be mailed to the funeral home in her memory. Cremation services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Road, Prescott, Wisconsin 54021. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com