Visitation at Church
10 AM - 11 AM Thursday, August 8, 2024 Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ 1001 Birch Drive Roberts WI, 54023
4 PM - 8 PM Wednesday August 7, 2024 O'Connell Family Funeral Home - Baldwin 1010 Newton St Baldwin WI, 54002
Kathleen Elaine (Hall) Johnson, age 81 of Roberts, died unexpectedly at home on August 2, 2024.
Kathleen was born on September 23, 1942 to Leveritt and Lois (Phillipps) Hall in River Falls, Wisconsin. The family then moved the next year to their farm outside of Roberts where Kathleen spent her days helping on the family farm, playing with her dolls, and fostering her love of nature and the outdoors which she would carry with her throughout the rest of her life.
Kathleen was a member of the last graduating class of the Roberts Eagles in 1960. From there she attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, majoring in elementary education. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher at EP Rock in Hudson, and after leaving to start her family, returned to the classroom in 1980 at St. Croix Central Elementary where she would spend the next 24 years educating, encouraging, and inspiring her 3rd grade students. She was confirmed at the Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ where she remained an active and devoted member up until her death. Over the years she volunteered in many capacities at church including that of a Sunday School teacher, youth choir director, choir member, pianist/organist, and as a member of various boards over the years.
Kathy had many passions in life, most instilled within her at a young age. She loved to be outdoors working in her garden or on the lawn, and kept two large gardens every year. She had a love of music learning the piano and playing the tuba in the high school band. Kathy had a love of sporting activities cheering on her favorite teams first as a basketball cheerleader in high school and then as her children’s and grandchildren’s number one fan. But there was nothing she was more passionate about than her family. Making a strong, loving, and supportive home was always her primary goal which she never relinquished even as her children had grown and started their own families. Her love was unconditional and it didn’t matter what was needed, all we need was to ask and she would find a way to make it happen.
Kathleen is cherished and will be forever missed by her children; Renee (Johnson) Gullixson, Jean Johnson, Brian (Stacy) Johnson; grandchildren Tiffany (Eric) Olson, Craig Gullixson, Reanna Gullixson, Ava Johnson, and Lincoln Johnson; great-grandsons Jack, Rian, and Elliot Olson, as well as her honorary grandchildren, Noah, Charlie and Brody Nusbaum. She is further survived by her step-son Kurtis (Bobbi) Johnson, her step-grandchildren and their families, as well as her brothers Duane (Fran) Hall, Glenn (Linda) Hall, as well as in-laws Joyce Johnson, Lowell (Sharon) Johnson, Lee Kempf, Faye Luepke, Dan (Chris) Stork, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leveritt and Lois Hall, beloved husband Leland Johnson, step-daughter Leianne, sisters in-law Ellen Hall and Marietta Johnston as well as brothers-in-law Lauren Johnson, Tom Johnston, Kevin Kempf, and Carl Luepke.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 8th at the Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ with Pastor Burt Williams officiating. A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 7th from 4:00pm-8:00pm at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Baldwin as well as an hour prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Brian Johnson, Craig Gullixson, Pete Nusbaum, Noah Nusbaum, Nathan Stork, and Mike Hall with honorary pallbearers being Tiffany Olson, Reanna Gullixson, Ava Johnson, Lincoln Johnson, Jack Olson, Rian Olson, Elliot Olson, Charli Nusbaum and Brody Nusbaum. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorials that will be used to support some of Kathleen’s favorite causes.