Amy A. Johnson Funeral

First Lutheran Church

Amy A. Johnson Funeral

March 2, 2022 • Tim Bjorge

This is the memorial service for our sister in Christ, Amy Johnson. During this service we highlight an interview Amy did with us in Lent 2021; to see that full service, scroll down to find a link to the video.

Obituary:
Amy Audrey Johnson nee Jacobson passed away on February 23, 2022 at the Amery Hospital. She was born on October 7, 1929 to the late Henry & Amy (Bonderson) Jacobson in Taylors Falls, MN.

Amy attended her first three grades of school, walking a mile & a half to a school out in the country. Amy’s parents moved to a farm near Shafer, MN. She was baptized in 1929 at First Lutheran Church, Taylors Falls, MN and was confirmed there in 1944. She graduated from Taylors Falls High School in 1947. Amy started college at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Her mother passed away in the fall of 1947, so Amy left college and moved home to help her father care for her younger sister, Ardis. Amy attended Bethesda Hospital Nursing School, St. Paul, MN, graduating as a nurse in 1952. She moved back home and worked at the St. Croix Falls Hospital for 3-4 years. She worked in many different places including: St. Paul, Chisago Lakes, MN., Long Beach, CA., Baraga, MI., and at the Amery Hospital.

Amy met Rev. Wilbert & Mabel Johnson at the church he was serving in Minneapolis, MN. Mabel had ALS and Amy helped care for her until she passed away. She married Rev. Wilbert Johnson on February 3, 1979 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wilbert took a call to Baraga, MI in the Upper Peninsula and Amy worked for home health care. When Wilbert retired they decided to move to Amery where Amy worked for several years as a nurse for the Amery Hospital. Wilbert passed away in 2005. Amy and Wilbert joined First Lutheran Church in Amery on June 7, 1987. She participated in Ruth Circle with quilting, Heavenly Hand-bells, choir, Bible studies and served on the church council. She volunteered at Willow Ridge and Golden Manor. Amy loved to read, play piano, help others and frequently drove for Interfaith Caregivers.

Amy is preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert; parents, Henry & Amy Jacobson and infant brothers, Curtis and Henry.

She is survived by her sister, Ardis (Guy) Ogilvie, Mount Pleasant, Iowa; nieces & nephews, Terri (Dale) Schinstock (son Michael), Tracy ( Cal ) Bloebaum (their children, Blake Lyon, Mindy Byrum and Nick Lyon), Jeffrey Ogilvie, Pastor Tom (Becky) Ogilvie (and their 5 children, Sydney, Sam, Fred, Frannie and Frank). She is also survived by her stepchildren, Bergita Engstrom (her sons, Jon (Dana) & Chad (Linnea), Gerene (Gary) Johnson (children, Matthew & Emily), Kirstin (Anthony) Ruona (children, Angela, Andrew (Katie), & Kelly Jo), Lane Johnson (daughters: Jennifer & Jessica), grandchildren, great grandchildren, a loving church family, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Amy will be held 11AM on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at First Lutheran Church in Amery, WI. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at First Lutheran Church from 10AM to 11AM. Burial will follow a luncheon at the church at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis at 2:30 PM.

Lila Ward Celebration of Life

October 11, 2024 • Tim Bjorge

Lila Bernette Ward, age 100, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Amery, Wisconsin. Lila was born on March 28, 1924, in Wanderoos, Wisconsin to Oscar and Esther Erickson. She attended Deer Lake School and later graduated from Balsam Lake High School. She married Robert Ward on December 18, 1942, and together they raised 4 children. Lila was a homemaker for many years as she raised her children. Later in life, she worked for the Amery Free Press and catered hundreds of local weddings with her dear friend Irma Marquand. She was a faithful member of First Lutheran Church in Amery as well as a member of the Eastern Star. Lila was an avid card player and belonged to many local bridge groups as well as her coffee group on South Street for almost 50 years. Lila loved her family most of all and leaves a legacy of love and kindness behind her. She treasured her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always had a fun game to play, a craft to create or her famous taffy to pull whenever we were together. Lila was also a wonderful and loyal friend to many. Lila is preceded in death by husband, Robert and oldest daughter Lorna Nelson as well as her parents and 3 siblings. Lila is survived by Gordon Nelson, James (Wendy) Ward, Bruce (Rita) Ward, Robin (Craig) Filkouski; 10 grandchildren, Karen Nelson, Kate Nelson, Alida Barthman, Jessie Whitman, Abby Wold, Daniel Ward, Issac Ward, Andrew Filkouski, Sam Filkouski and Carlie Filkouski; 11 great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kallie, Brooke, Grady, Chris, Alex, Casey, Jadelynn, Kyla, Teddy and Lily. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in Amery, WI. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church. Burial will take place at the Amery Cemetery in Amery, WI.

Karen Swager Celebration of Life

September 20, 2024 • Tim Bjorge

Karen Lois Swager (Schjenken), of Amery, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2024 at the Amery Hospital surrounded by family. Karen was born in St. Croix Falls, WI to Marlin and Lois Schjenken on June 19, 1956. She grew up in Dresser WI. Karen graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in 1974. She married Steve Swager and to this union they had a daughter, Tiffany Swager. She worked during her younger years at Bellanca Airport in Osceola, WI. She also worked many years at Amtec and Cardinal Glass in Amery, WI doing office work. Karen was involved in church and loved to teach Sunday School while her daughter was younger. She enjoyed spending her time tending to her flower gardens, sewing, and baking. Another pastime she enjoyed was researching her family’s history. She liked seeing the world and traveling. She especially loved going to Arizona to see her brother, Keith, and family vacations with her long-time friend, Linda. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and going to her granddaughters sporting events. She recently became a great-grandma and loved the time she got to spend with her great-grandson. Karen is survived by her daughter, Tiffany Swager; her brothers, Darrell Schjenken and Dale Schjenken (Lorie); Granddaughter, Brandi Swager (Bobby); Grandsons, Weston Facchinni and Jaxson Facchinni. Her great-grandson, Liam Sims; Nieces and Nephews, Kelsie Senarighi (Adam), Dustin Schejenken (Syd), Amber Schjenken (Jordan); Aunts and Uncle, Katie Humble, Deena Gravelle, Russell Kunde (Mary) and longtime childhood friend Linda McKusick. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marlin and Lois Schjenken and brother, Keith Schjenken. Funeral Services for Karen will be held at 11am on Friday, September 20, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in Amery, WI. Visitation will be from 4-7pm on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery and again one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be at Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Dresser, WI.

Estela Navarro Celebration of Life

August 9, 2024 • Tim Bjorge

Estela Navarro 87, of Amery, formerly of Miami, FL passed away peacefully on July 23, 2024. Estela was born on November 12, 1937 in Havana, Cuba. She grew up in a home with six brothers and sisters. Family was everything and she always talked about her family in Cuba. After high school, Estela worked many jobs before moving to Miami, Florida. She married Antonio Nobles Navarro in 1968 and they later had two sons, John and Antonio. Through the years, Estela worked hard for her family in home health care, real estate, being a para at the school, and raising two sons, whom she adored. On August 17, 2007, she was extremely proud to become a United States citizen. Estela was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Antonio. She will be greatly missed by her sons John (Shannon) Aizpurua and Tony (Amanda) Aizpurua, her six grandchildren John, Joshua (Alex), Justice, Luciana, Mateo, and Laken, along with many other special family and friends. A visitation will be held at First Lutheran Church in Amery, WI on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm, followed by her funeral service at 4:00 pm.