Obituary of Donna Mae Johnson

On March 13, 2025, Donna Mae Johnson met her Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face as she traded her temporary earthly home for her forever heavenly home at the age of 94.

Donna Wyss was born on June 27, 1930 to Gertrude and Donald Wyss at the family farm in Bovey, MN as the eldest of four children. She graduated from Greenway High School in 1948. After high school, Donna attended nursing college at St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Duluth, MN and spent her years as a surgical nurse at St. Luke’s.

She married Leonard F. Johnson on June 19, 1953. To this union the Johnson’s were blessed with three children: Ronald, Julie, and Cynthia.

After Leonard passed in 1964, Donna met Arnold Johnson, and they were married on July 3, 1965. Arnold brought his two children, Brian and Barbara, into their family.

The Johnson’s lived on Allegheny Street in Duluth for many years until retiring out to “the cabin on the lake” in 1989. It was here in the log cabin on picturesque Pequaywan Lake that many memories were shared with friends and family. Fishing, pontooning, swimming, paddle boating, tobogganing, snowmobiling and bird watching were regular activities for many years. Visitors could always count on cookies, caramel rolls and lots of chocolate.

Arne and Donna moved from the beloved cabin in 2016 to St. Cloud. In 2020 they moved into Chateau Waters, a beautiful independent living facility in Sartell, MN. After Arne passed in June 2020, Donna thrived in the social activities of Chateau Waters and made many dear friends there.

To know Donna was to love Donna. She loved meeting people and striking up conversations with strangers, hosting gatherings, pretty napkins, writing and receiving letters, Sunday popcorn suppers, laughter, movies, butterflies and her plethora of family and friends. Above it all, she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and for Donna “To live [was] Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

Donna is survived by her children Ron (Teri Dudzinski) Johnson of Bozeman, MT; Brian (Susan) Johnson of Omaha, NE; Julie (Tim) Goodner of Sauk Rapids, MN; Barb Doud of Salem, NH; and Cindy Johnson of St. Cloud, MN. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, sister Betty (Pete Axford) Hendrickson of St. Cloud; brother Burt Wyss of Seattle, WA and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Leonard, second husband Arnold, sister Mary Ann, grandson Benjamin and other extended family.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at Chateau Waters in Sartell, MN on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Forest Hills Cemetery Chapel in Duluth on Monday, May 19 2025 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, any monetary donations received will be used towards a memorial bench on Lake Francis outside of Chateau Waters.