Susan Edna (Gilkey) Johnson, age 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 16, 2022, after a long illness. She was born April 15, 1937 in Merrill, Wisconsin to George R. and Edna (Bergman) Gilkey. She married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Erling George Johnson, in June of 1958. Erling preceded her in death in 1999.
Susan is survived by her brother George Gilkey and wife Jane; her three sons and their wives: Richard and Robin Johnson, Randall and Ann Johnson, Robert and Lynne Johnson, her daughter Amy Johnson; her grandchildren: Bethany (Tyler) Fordice, Daniel (Hannah) Johnson, Rachel (Tyler) Cozzo, Ryan Johnson, Thomas (Annie) Scherzer, Alexander (Tiani) Scherzer, and Mackenzie Johnson; and her great grandchildren, Emma Scherzer, James Johnson, and Peter Johnson and many nieces and nephews. Her family always felt privileged to care for her in her final years. She was preceded in death by her son Erling “Peanut” Neil Johnson, her granddaughter Melissa Johnson, and her sisters Judy Peper, Madge Gilkey, and Barbara Zackert.
Susan was born and raised in Merrill, Wisconsin. She graduated from Merrill High School and attended the Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL where she studied to be a medical secretary. Susan dedicated her life to raising her four children and eventually helping raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She especially loved her role as Grandma where she was kind and gentle and adored by her family and friends. Susan left Wisconsin after her marriage and lived in many different locations around the United States but never forgot her Wisconsin roots: she was an avid Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan and never missed a game. Her fondest memories were traveling the country after Erling’s retirement in their RV visiting family and friends and having adventures.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 658 Millbrook Rd, Randolph, NJ. Visitation will be from 10am to 12pm with a service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zach’s Foundation at https://teamzach.org or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of her nephew Zachary Rummel.
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