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.
Amy A. Johnson Funeral
March 2, 2022 • Tim Bjorge
Catherine Ann Hagan Funeral
December 1, 2023 • Tim Bjorge
Obituary Cathy entered eternal life on Thursday, November 23, 2023. Her spirit is carried on by her husband, Stephen Hagen, 3 children, 5 grandchildren, great grandson, two surviving siblings and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Cathy during her 76 years, among them: if it’s on clearance, buy it, you never know when you’ll need 7 Christmas platters. Let your husband feed the dog ice cream every night. Take lots of walks, golf, travel, and never stop laughing. Go to church. Volunteer your time. Keep every single Vikings play book from the games you attend. Bring a cooler full of cherry coke everywhere you go. You never know when you might need one. And show up for your friends and your family. Cathy did it all and more. Her stories, humor, and kindness will live on. Cathy was born and raised in Two Harbors, MN. Where she and her husband, Steve, met and fell in love. They later moved to Amery, WI, where she spent the rest of her days raising children, playing bridge and other card games with friends, golfing, playing handbells, and working for several accountants, Polk county clerk of courts, and doing payroll at Golden Age Manor. She also spent time volunteering at the Food Shelf in Amery especially with food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Cathy was very involved in First Lutheran Church. She also traveled many places with friends and family including wintering in Arizona, traveling home to Two Harbors, and cruising in Hawaii and Alaska. Her final days were spent at Amery Memory care where she passed away, peacefully. She is survived by her husband: Steve Hagen; siblings: Todd (Suzie) Cullen, Judy (Mike) Herbst; children: Lori Sather (Chad Rindt), Scott Hagen (Deb), Eric Hagen (Sarah); grandchildren: Jordan Parmeter (Alex), Alex Sather, Dylan Hagen, Ben Hagen, and Brooke Hagen; great-grandson: Harrison Parmeter; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and family too numerous to list. Cathy is reunited with her mother and father, Dale and Burnette Cullen. Friends can visit with the Hagen family at First Lutheran Church in Amery, WI on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 10:00 am. Service will begin at 11:00 am and there will be a lunch following that. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation in honor of Cathy be made to the Amery Food Pantry or First Lutheran Church.
Orrin "Doc" Arneson Funeral
May 25, 2023 • Tim Bjorge
Dr. Orrin Nathan Arneson was born on July 14, 1928 to Rudolph and Elizabeth (Sagler) Arneson in DeSoto, WI. He passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023 at the age of 94 at Riverbend Assisted Living in Amery, WI. Orrin was in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Minnesota for Forestry. He then went to Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK where he received his FAA Aircraft and Engine Mechanic license. He was a line mechanic for two years at Wisconsin Central Airlines in Madison, WI. In 1951, he went to Marquette University in Michigan for pre-med and then attended four years at the University of Wisconsin Medical School where he got his doctorate of medicine. He graduated on June 15, 1956 and he then married Kristie (Leirmo) on June 16, 1956 in Ferryville, WI. He did his residency at Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan and started his general practice in July of 1957 at Amery Clinic until 1985 when he merged with Family Medical Clinic. They were blessed with four children Vicki, Duane, Yvonne and Gwen. Orrin loved flying his small personal plane, hunting elk in Idaho, deer hunting near Minong, fishing, camping and world traveling. He was active in the community, serving on the School board, Church council and serving many pancake breakfasts at the Amery airport. He was a proud veteran and volunteered for many events. He loved being a general practitioner doctor, and many family trips and events were scheduled around the over 1,400 babies that he delivered during his practice. Orrin is preceded in death by his parents, sister Ardis Libke, brother-in-law Dr. Bob Libke, brother Neil Arneson, and sister-in-law Dianne Arneson. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kristie, daughter Vicki (Barry) Martin of Bloomington, MN; son Duane (Bobbi Volstad) Arneson of Pierson, FL; daughter Yvonne (Dennis) Darragh of Sebastian, FL; and daughter Gwen (Rick) Johannsen of Amery; and by four grandchildren, Adam (Anne) Martin, Tricia (Michael) Heagle, Alexandra (Micheal) Bell, Amanda Johannsen and three great grandchildren, Mila Heagle, Kira Heagle and Maci Bell. The family would like to thank the entire staff at Riverbend for their compassion, support and excellent care! Funeral services will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at First Lutheran Church in Amery. Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery as well as the hour prior to the service at church. A private family interment with Military Honors will take place in July at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Center in Spooner, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials gratefully accepted to First Lutheran Church, Amery.