Susan Ellen Johnson

'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

Susan Johnson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle against brain cancer. Born 1943 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Susan graduated from East Waterloo (Iowa) High School. In 1965, she married James Johnson at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Davenport. Susan and James were lucky enough to spend the next 57 years together, raising three children and having five grandchildren.

Her priorities were always family, faith, and friends. Susan devoted herself to her family, from being a room mother for all three of her children at Logan Elementary School in Moline, Illinois, to attending every possible event for her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren). She was an active and dedicated member of the First Lutheran Church in Moline since the mid-1970s, where she cherished group fellowship and devoted much of her time to church events.

Professionally, Susan excelled as a merchandiser for American Greetings, ending her career as trainer/manager. She carried her love of greeting cards through retirement (those lucky enough to know were lucky enough to have received one of her exquisite handmade cards). She also loved crafts, quilting, sewing, reading, fit groups, and crossword puzzles. Susan was not without weakness; she never wanted to be bothered when her daily addictions – Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune – were on.

She was a bright light in the lives of those that knew her. Susan’s unconditional love, compassion, and faith in God will be what we remember most. Her passing has left a huge void in the hearts of family and friends. It’s hard to measure Susan's profound impact on the lives of those she touched. Her husband James told her, “You were the best thing that ever happened to me.” She was the best thing to happen to us, too. Susan, you were one of a kind.

Susan is survived by her siblings, Michael (Carol) Hofstadter, Tom (Janice) Hofstadter, John (Carol) Hofstadter, Paul (Maura) Hofstadter, Alice (Larry) Baruth, Mary (Lon) Kammeyer, and Laurie (Dean) Payne, her children Jeff Johnson, Kelli Killion and Brad (Jill) Johnson, grandchildren, Alexander (Hannah) Killion, Lauren (Riley) Killion, Cooper (Abby) Johnson, Michael (Olivia) Killion, and Christian Killion. Her great-grandchildren, Hadley, Landon, Rowyn, Gavin, and Brooks. She and her husband Jim will especially miss their life long friends Dick and Barb Curry of Moline.

She was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Ella Hofstadter, husband James, sister Carolyn Miller and grandson Ty Michael Johnson.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Waterloo, IA.

Susan’s family extends their profound gratitude to Compassus Hospice and requests memorials be made to First Lutheran Church in Moline, Illinois.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences to the family on her Memory Wall at wendtfuneralhome.com