Willie "Ann" Johnson

Posted 7/25/18

Willie “Ann” Rader Johnson, 86, passed away on Monday evening, July 23, 2018 at the DeKalb County Nursing Home in DeKalb, after a long battle with Alzheimers.

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Willie "Ann" Johnson

Posted

MALTA — Willie “Ann” Rader Johnson, 86, passed away on Monday evening, July 23, 2018 at the DeKalb County Nursing Home in DeKalb, after a long battle with Alzheimers.
Ann was born on April 22, 1932 to Everett and Bondell (Logan) Rader in Beloit, Wis. She grew up in the Kings community and attended the Kings Grade School going on to graduate from Rochelle Township High School in 1950.
After meeting in high school, she married Robert Johnson of Esmond in 1952, who went on to become the love of her life and best friend.
Ann worked for a number of years at DJ Stewarts Department Store in Rockford and then with Bob they farmed for years. They had three children, Cindy, Dan and David.
She worked at the Eswood School District for 19 years where she served as a bus driver, custodian and cook help. She loved the children who rode her bus. She was also an Avon lady and enjoyed visiting neighbors when she called on them.
Ann loved Christ and was very involved in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Creston, where she served as an A.L.C.W. officer numerous times. She attended circle and was known in the church for her decorating talents. Ann was an active participant in the Rochelle Christian Women’s Club and BSF study groups in Rockford for a number of years.
She took pleasure in playing bridge and 500 card clubs. Ann also adored roses and was a member in the Prairie Rose Society of Sycamore. At one time, she and Bob had over 400 rose plants on their farm. Ann and Bob were members of the Northern Illinois Angus Association and raised cattle.  She got such a kick out of going to the county fairs to watch her grandchildren show cattle.
Ann is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bob, of Malta; daughter, Cindy Brown and grandson, Joshua, both of Lindenwood; son, Dan (Sheryl) Johnson of Wichita, Kan., and grandchildren Katie (Adam) Zimmerman, Nathan (Kelly) Johnson and Shelby Johnson; and son, David (Molly) Johnson of Esmond, and grandchildren Victoria, Logan, Levi and Sara. She was also blessed with three great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by two sisters, Louise Bolick-Taylor and Roberta Rader.
The visitation will be from 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, July 27 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. Sixth St., Rochelle. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28 at the funeral home with Pastor Steve Woita officiating.  Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Creston.
Memorials may be made in Ann’s memory to the DeKalb County Nursing Home or to Northwestern Medicine Hospice of DeKalb. 
Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.