Joan's Funeral Service Video

In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Granny

Joan Johnson (formerly Edminster), affectionately known as Granny, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2025, at the age of 93, surrounded by the love of her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy in life was the people she loved.

Born on August 14, 1931, Granny was one half of a special pair—she and her twin sister, Jean Roland, shared an unbreakable bond. She also had a beloved younger sister, Jane Perkins, and now they are all reunited in heaven. She married the love of her life, Loy, on September 2, 1952, after a fateful meeting following a Packers game—a team she loyally supported as a longtime season ticket holder. Football season will never feel the same without her cheering from the stands—or from the comfort of her home with a Pepsi (with ice chunks, of course) in hand.

Joan was a woman of simple joys and deep love. She found happiness in the familiar comforts of her daily newspaper, a piece of Hershey's chocolate, and long phone calls with those she cherished. She had a heart for tradition, crocheting beautiful keepsakes for her family and making sure no one ever left her home hungry. Her love for cooking was a reflection of who she was—nurturing, generous, and always eager to bring people together.

Joan worked 25 years at the New London Community Hospital as a Unit Clerk. Summers were especially dear to her, as she spent them in Crandon, WI, at the family cottage—a place filled with cherished memories, laughter, and love. Whether enjoying the peacefulness of the lake, sharing stories on the porch, or simply being surrounded by family, the cottage was her happy place. In retirement, she and Loy also spent 21 wonderful winters in Lakeland, FL, embracing the sunshine and friendships they built over the years.

She also had a great love for shopping, especially at Kohl's, where she could always find a good deal. Whether it was a new cozy sweater or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, she enjoyed the thrill of a great bargain almost as much as she enjoyed sharing her finds with her family.

She will be deeply missed by her three surviving children: Tom (Mary) Johnson of New London; Jerry (Diane) Johnson of Clintonville; and Mary Bocik of Appleton. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Brenda (Kevin) Giese of Warsaw, MO; Curt (Elisa) Johnson of Eagle, ID; Ryan (Danielle) Bocik of New London; and Kyle (Amanda) Bocik of Caldwell, ID. Her beloved eight great-grandchildren: Zachary (Amber) Giese, Nathan (special friend Presley) Giese, Ellender Johnson, Everly Johnson, Emmalise Johnson, Leonidas Bocik, Maximus Bocik, and Octavia Bocik. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Naomi Johnson of Green Bay; nieces and nephews: Bruce (Judy) Roland of New London; Ned (Amy) Roland of New London; and Sue (Dan) Wilfuer of New London; as well as many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cherished friends.

She is reunited in heaven with her husband, Loy; her twin sister, Jean Roland; her younger sister, Jane Perkins; and her precious child, Robert (Bobby, age 3), whom she lost too soon. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Sarah Edminster; Loy's parents, James and Ann (McClone) Johnson; sisters-in-law, Anna Marie Lehman and Eleanor Flanagan; and seven brothers-in-law: Leo Johnson, Rev. James Merlin Johnson, O. Praem., James Johnson Jr., Gordon Lehman, Jerry Flanagan, Robert Roland, and Larry Perkins.

Granny's love was a steady presence in all our lives, and her memory will be cherished forever. She was a woman who never met a shade of pink or purple she didn't love, never passed up a scoop of Maple Nut ice cream from Kwik Trip, and never let a day go by without reminding her family how much they meant to her (even if that meant calling them three times a day).

A celebration of Granny's life will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London, with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at a later date for the immediate family at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Bear Creek.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Moments Hospice, especially Maureen, for the special care she gave to Joan. They would also like to thank the staff at St. Joseph's Nursing Home for the care and compassion they showed to Mom.

Granny, you were the heart of our family, and we will miss you always.