Sharon Lee (Kohler) JOHNSON

KOHLER, JOHNSON, KRUGER, PETERSON, ROZZONI

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

May 2, 1939 --- May 2, 2007

LEESBURG, FLA. - Sharon (nee: Kohler) Johnson, 68, died on her birthday, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, after a brief, but courageous battle against brain cancer. She was born on May 2, 1939, in Dubuque, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1960 and was a Teacher for Racine Unified School District from 1960 until 1995, having taught the majority of her career at Walden Middle School as a Teacher and Middle School Coordinator. She also taught summer programs in Hungary, India, Poland, and China.

Sharon is survived by two sons, Mark Johnson and his wife, Chris of New Port Richey, Fla. and Douglas Johnson and his wife, Beth of Racine. Mark and Doug brought Sharon much pride and joy, which reached far beyond any of her personal achievements. Sharon was also blessed with eight grandchildren, Ricky, Alyssa, Scott, Amy, Bradley, Bryan, and Brooklyn, and treasured each moment she shared with them. Sharon is also survived by her sisters, Carol Kruger of Danbury, Kathy Peterson of Racine, and Linda Rozzoni of Noblesville, Ind. She was predeceased by her father and mother, Arthur George and Amy Lucille Kohler. First and foremost in Sharon's life were her family and friends.

She was married to Richard Dean Johnson for 48 years. Dick was also a Teacher for Racine Unified School District and taught at Walden High School. Dick and Sharon retired to Florida on Christmas Day of 1995. Over the years, Dick and Sharon enjoyed traveling, designing, and implementing various home projects and sharing stories with each other of their students' accomplishments. In their travels, Dick and Sharon visited approximately 135 national parks and traveled to Turkey, Germany, and Austria. Their travels also included sailing in Tahiti. Sharon was a "designer extraordinaire" and enjoyed quilting and scrapbooking. She designed and completed personalized scrapbooks for each of her grandchildren so that they would have a record of their childhood memories. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Sharon was a devout Teacher, having participated in numerous field trips and extracurricular activities. She will be remembered for making a difference in the lives of her students and for her dedication to the teaching profession. She was one of the developers and implementers of Mini Math, which is now taught nationally. She was also awarded the Teacher of the Year Apple Award.

Sharon was a great storyteller and entertained both family and friends with humorous stories that will continue to be shared by those who loved her. Sharon's guidance, mentoring, and sense of humor will be sorely missed. The memories and blessings she bestowed in her life will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew her. Sharon was a member of Women for Hospice and the Leesburg Quilters Guild. Other leisure pursuits included Mah Jongg, golf, and participating in her local dart and bocce ball leagues. Sharon was a past member of Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Fla. A Memorial service will be held at Christ Church United Methodist, 5109 Washington Avenue, Racine, on Friday, June 15, 2007, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jaime Nolla officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society; or Hospice of Lake Sumter, 12300 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Fla. 32778-9660.

Racine Journal Times --- Racine, Wisconsin
May 6, 2007

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[interred in Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove, Iowa]