Judith 'Judy' Johnson

Judith ‘Judy’ Johnson, age 81, of Ninilchick, Alaska, formerly of Wilson, Wisconsin passed peacefully on April 3, 2025 at Soldotna Hospital, with her loving husband by her side.

Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Knapp United Methodist Church, Knapp, Wisconsin.

A luncheon will follow the service.

Judy was born April 6, 1943, in Menomonie WI, to Edmund and Arlene (Abbott) Hayden.  She attended Knapp Elementary School and graduated from Menomonie High School with the class of 1961.  She worked at the Stout Library following high school but discovered she had a passion for sewing and started working at Sandy Lees Sewing factory in Menomonie WI where she continued to work until they closed. From there she went to Johnson Garments in Clear Lake WI.  After moving to Alaska Judy cooked at the Whaler where she loved going in early to have coffee ready for the fisherman before they launched out in the mornings.

Judy married Larry Anderson on May 17th, 1969, in Boyceville WI and were blessed with three children: Lori, Mark, and Lynn whom they raised together in Wilson WI until he passed away on June 5, 1991.  On April 20th, 1999 she married Melvin Johnson in Reno NV and the two of them lived in Ninilchik Alaska. 

Judy had a deep love for her family and friends and was the absolute best wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.  After moving to Alaska she would often come back to Wisconsin for extended visits to spend time with her family and friends.  She would stay with Mark and make frequent visits to Lori’s, insuring she spent as much time as possible with those she loved.  She cherished being around the grandchildren, hearing about their latest accomplishments and sharing stories about her own childhood with them.  In their grade school years, Chase & Blake were blessed to spend their summers in Alaska with “JuJu” and Mel making many special memories along the way. She loved spending time with Shye and couldn’t wait to show all her guests Shye’s gymnastics picture which hung her refrigerator.  Staying with Mark enabled her to have a lot of time with Brennan and Sissy where she spoiled them as much as she could get away with and created many memories for them to carry forward in their hearts.  She was so excited for Ally’s upcoming wedding, the planned Alaska family visit with April’s family, Chase, Duvan and Shye, and couldn’t wait to meet her newest great-grandchild, Everly Lynn.

Judy also had a passion for horses that stemmed back to her childhood years. She was part of the Menomonie Saddle Club and competed in the MN State Fair. She enjoyed spending time with her husband Mel watching Westerns and Nascar and traveling to Nevada where they ventured off to see amazing sites.  She also enjoyed old country music and baking chocolate chip cookies for those she loved.

Preceding her death are her parents Edmund and Arlene Hayden, her first husband Larry Anderson, her daughter Lynn, brother Bill Hayden and sister Jan Brahmer. 

Judy is survived by her husband Melvin; children Lori (Brian) Lee and Mark (Melissa) Anderson; stepson Charlie Johnson; 10 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be on Sunday, May 4, from 1 p.m. until  3 p.m. at church prior to the service.

Private burial will be at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery, Knapp.

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