Nancy Lane Johnson of Mequon passed peacefully on October 29, 2023 at age 88, surrounded by family.  She is survived by her husband of 66 years, James Johnson.  Loving sister of the late Marianne Rimes and Judy Frisk and Andrea Jaquette. 

In 1956 Nancy was working as a volunteer with the USAF Ground Observer Corps and met her husband Jim by chance. He was going to a night school class, and on the way dropped off a friend, who was also a volunteer, at the facility.  His friend suggested he come in for a quick look at the activity.  As in the song “Some Enchanted Evening,” Jim saw Nancy across a crowded room. 

Nancy loved playing the piano, gardening, embroidering and the joy of her children.  A lifelong Catholic, she was a church organist and an alto in the church choir. A musical highlight of her life was singing with the combined choir at Pope John Paul II’s 1979 mass at Chicago’s Grant Park.  Nancy painted and sketched, wrote funny stories and composed a sad little song “A Frog’s Lament.”  She was a rosary maker and doll maker. In high school she was a fair volleyball player.  Always a Cubs fan, as a young girl she once lived near Wrigley Field and attended many games.  She enjoyed woodland walks (not too far) and especially birdwatching, with a lifetime list of over 100 bird species.  She liked Bing Crosby, Hoagy Carmichael and old black & white movies.  At Scrabble, she was the champ. 

Nancy is also survived by four children, Diane Johnson (Mark Olsoe), Christina Johnson, James Johnson Jr, (Lydia) and Dr. Anne Johnson (Dean Knauss) and three grandchildren, Jason Johnson, David Kalisek and Fiona Vaitys. 

Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. and a celebration of faith will be held with a mass at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023 at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, 2750 W. Mequon Rd., Mequon WI 53092.  Lunch, photograph viewing and sharing of stories will follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations to Advocate Aurora Health Care Foundation are appreciated. Also grateful thanks for the compassion and care from the nursing staff at Teal Shores and the support of Horizon Hospice.  

Memorial comments welcomed.