Janet Lorraine Johnson

Janet Lorraine Johnson, age 80, of Pickford, Michigan, died Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at home. She was born November 5, 1936, in Chelsea, Michigan, to Harold B. and Olga Edna (Heselschwerdt) Widmayer. Jan grew up on a dairy farm in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Education at Michigan State University. After a year of teaching, she returned to Michigan State University to earn her Master Degree. After teaching one year in Crystal Falls, Michigan, she and her husband, Richard “Dick” Johnson, moved to Pickford where they both taught at Pickford High School until 1985. Jan was the Home Economics teacher who mentored countless students. She also was the advisor to an extremely active Chapter of the Future Homemakers of America. Over the years her FHA students were leaders in chapter, region, and state offices, and then, in the communities in which they lived as adults. The Pickford students were blessed for 25 years with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. The Pickford community was a better place because they were here the remainder of their lives. Jan was active in the Pickford New Horizons Church of the Nazarene where she taught Sunday school, served as church secretary and treasurer, and planned and prepared food for many church events. Jan loved to read and travel, often camping with the Good Sam Club. She and Dick visited every Canadian province and 48 of the 50 United States, missing only North and South Carolina. They also traveled to Egypt and did missionary work in the Bahamas. Jan also enjoyed sewing and made many clothes and costumes for her grandchildren. She liked playing dominos, cribbage, golf, and taking evening strolls around town with Dick. Jan is survived by one son, Richard C. (Sandy) Johnson Jr. of Saginaw, Michigan; two daughters, Kay (Jerry) Stephens of Saginaw, and Gloria Johnson (Robert Laverty) of Cedarville, Michigan; grandchildren, Daniel (Ruth) Johnson, Diane (Pete) Donofrio, Michele (Keith) Hoolsema, Denise Kading, Marcy Johnson, David Johnson, and Betty Mayer; great grandchildren, Elizabeth (Everett), Ashleigh (Chris), Danny, Brandon (Hope), MaKena, Carver, David (Kathy), Christopher, Gabriele, Peter, Rachele, Jessica, Ryan, Stephanie, Tim, Louie John, Brett, Keith, Katie (Danny), Shianne, Branden, and R.J.; and sixteen great great grandchildren. Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Clare Johnson; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Ernest Podoba; and grandsons, Del Podoba and Jason Johnson. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford and Friday, June 2, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at New Horizons Church of the Nazarene, 401 N. M-129 in Pickford. The funeral service will begin at the church at 11:00 A.M. on Friday. Burial will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made to SHSS, (Memo: Pickford Pennington Home), 1501 W. 6th Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

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Janet Lorraine Johnson

November 5, 1936 - May 24, 2017