Joyce Edna (Ellison) Johnson

Joyce Johnson, 95, a resident of St. Crispin’s Assisted Living community, completed her life’s journey on April 16 surrounded by her family and at peace.  Joyce’s story began in 1927 in Freedhem, Minnesota, where she was the fifth of seven children in a farming family of proud Swedish heritage. As a young adult, she ventured to California, where she met and married a handsome young soldier and fellow Minnesotan, Harold Johnson.  Harold and Joyce had five children and many happy years together - most of them spent in Red Wing and Mankato, Minnesota.

Together, Harold and Joyce provided a safe and happy home for their family. In addition to raising children, Joyce was a “working mom” who worked as an administrative assistant for public school systems in Red Wing and Mankato, and as executive assistant to the president at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, where she retired in 1992.

Harold and Joyce returned to Red Wing upon their retirement, where they enjoyed the company of many good friends while their own children established lives and families of their own. Following Harold’s death in 2015, Joyce moved to Red Wing’s downtown Plaza, and later to St. Crispin’s Assisted Living community in Red Wing, where she lived until her passing.

Joyce will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, a devoted grandmother, an avid reader, and in later life, a budding poet. A lifelong Christian, she took comfort in her faith and was active in the life of her church. She was blessed with many family members and close friends who loved her.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, David and Aleen Ellison; five siblings, Margaret Ellison, Betty (Ray) Stromquist, Florence (Ted) Carlson, Grace (Russ) Lorenson and Norman “Buddy” Ellison; her husband, Harold Johnson, and daughter, Lori.  She is survived by her sister, Esther (Frank) Nordlie; children, Carol (Jim) Bauer, Jennifer Johnson, Paul (Nancy) Johnson, Lisa (Todd) Wentz; eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather to honor her on Friday, April 21, at First United Methodist Church in Red Wing.  Visitation at 1:00 pm; service at 2:00 pm. Private burial.  Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church or Mayo Clinic Foundation. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.