Ruth Ann Johnson

Ruth Ann (Abnet) Johnson, 76, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2019, surrounded by her immediate family at Lakeview Health Center in West Salem.  She was born on January 8, 1943 in La Crosse to Henry and Ethel (Oldenburg) Abnet.

Ruth grew up in La Crescent, MN with sisters Rhoda and Sharon, attending La Crosse Aquinas High School where she met the love of her life, Eugene Johnson.   They were married on July 7 ^th , 1962, at the Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent.   With the new (current) church still under construction, their ceremony took place in the school’s gymnasium with the alter located under a basketball hoop!  Ruth would consistently recite this sequence of events of her transition into adulthood:   Graduated in ’61, married in ’62, Chris born in ’63, Amy born in ’64, and Collin born in ’65.

The newlyweds and family lived in La Crosse until the late 1960’s, spent 1 year in Byron, MN, and 4 years in Prairie du Chien, WI before returning back to live in La Crescent in 1972.   Ruth then took on a job at Trane Company’s Administration building, working for 30 years in departments including Purchasing and International Finance.

When daughter Amy married husband Mark, Ruth became an instant “Grandma” and that moniker will last forever.   Grandma and “the kids”; to which more “kidlets” (as Grandpa would call them) would eventually enter the picture.   She truly loved them all.  As a perfect example, she once made a comment that, “her ideal job”, would be to sit in a rocking chair taking care of newborn babies.

Ruth was always busy with various projects, exhibiting talent with sewing, quilt-making, knitting & crocheting, etc.   Making doll clothes was a particular passion.   She especially enjoyed annual trips to Nancy’s Notions in Beaver Dam which included her sisters and cousin, Marilyn.  Ruth also enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, word-searches, crosswords and sudokus.   Cooking was another hobby she would dabble in, as was flowers and gardening.   About the only thing she admitted that she never did was put gas in a car.   Nope!

She was a lifetime member of the Church of the Crucifixion, also contributing with the St. Cecelia’s Circle.

Her retirement with husband and best friend, “Butch”, had many highlights.  They especially enjoyed when grandkids occasionally spent weekends with them, plus relished another opportunity of holding a babysitting “job” for a few of the Great Grandkids for 3 days a week lasting for several years.   It absolutely cannot be understated how much they truly cherished every minute of that time spent with them!

Another highlight was being able to do some travel, including bus trips to places like Branson, MO, and New York City.   Her and Butch also made it out to California to visit family a few times.   Their annual getaway to Boyd’s Resort in northern Wisconsin was something they looked forward to every year.   They loved it so much they invited the family along to share in the experience.   Fishing, puzzles, feeding the deer and Family Time were the highlights of those vacations.  Attending shows at the Heider Center, the La Crosse Community Theater, and in the Twin Cities were also special events.  Ruth and Butch also spent much quality time together with simple things like going to rummage sales and often just going out to eat.  Ruth’s occasional get-togethers with her “lunch bunch” of former co-workers upon retirement was something else she always enjoyed.

As a testament to her inner strength, she absolutely never allowed an Alzheimer’s diagnosis about 10 years ago to define her.   Ruth approached it matter-of-factly; “Hey, I got the easy part, all of you have got the hard part.”   And she mostly kept on doing what she did before.

Ruth is greatly missed by her children, Chris Johnson of La Crescent, Amy (Mark) Shanley of La Crosse, and Collin (Barb) Johnson of St. Charles, MN;   7 grandchildren:  Michael (Jenny) Shanley, Tom (Becca) Shanley, Barb (Kory) Kolb, Erin (Chris) Ditscheit, Kayla Sullivan, Miranda and Austin Johnson;   plus 12 great grandchildren:  Forest, Paige, Sadie, Gracie, Mattie, Kaisen, Lexi, Kamdyn, Kyeten, Eliana, Josephine and Natalie.  Also surviving are Ruth’s sister, Sharon Pilger; sister-in-law, Arlene Falk; brothers-in-law, Rick Wiese, Leonard Wieser and David (Jaci Pfaff) Johnson, Neil and Marcia Jennings; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ruth was preceded in death by husband Eugene (“Butch”), her parents, a sister Rhoda Wiese, plus a younger sister, Mary, during infancy.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 17th at the Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent.   Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m.   Rev. Greg Havel and Deacon Gerald Trocinski will officiate.   Burial will follow in the Crucifixion Cemetery.  There will also be an extended celebration of Ruth’s life (as per her wishes) beginning at about 2:30 p.m. at the Sports Hub in La Crescent.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated to the La Crosse County Dementia Care Program.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to all those who would visit Ruth, including those from Neighbors in Action while still at home.   Extra special thanks must go to the entire staff at Ravenwood in Lakeview Health Center during her stay there the past few months.   “Grandma” received such exceptional care.

Ruth’s passing means (to her family) that her and Butch are finally back together.   And (well beyond) that there is now another angel helping to take care of newborn babies and other kids.