On Thursday, September 19, 2019, Johanna Marie (Johnson) Lewis passed away at the age of 60. 

Johanna was born on July 4, 1959 in Valley City, North Dakota, to Norman and Patricia (Rossillon) Johnson, the older of two sisters surrounded in age by eight brothers.  Johanna graduated from New Ulm High School in 1977 and Carleton College in Northfield, MN, in 1982, where she studied English. She was delighted to marry Frederick Lewis on August 3, 1985.  They raised one daughter, Erin Lewis, who Johanna considered her greatest accomplishment. Johanna worked at Hennepin County as a Data Analyst for over 20 years, retiring in 2015.

Johanna had a passion for theatre and literature.  Both in high school and at Carleton, she performed in many musicals and plays, nurturing a love for the crafts of acting and singing.  She was an avid reader, particularly Jane Austen, and treasured the time she spent with her book groups as their “noble scribe,” one of which lasted more than 25 years.  A Scrabble champion, she could always calculate the value of a word in her head. She was known for her wit, her genuine warmth, and her generosity towards others.

Johanna was preceded in death by her husband Frederick, her sister Mary, and her father Norman.  She is survived by her daughter Erin (wife Jane), her mother Patricia, her brothers William (wife Laurel), Robert (wife Jane), John (wife Teresa), James (wife Susan), Joseph (wife Robin), Christopher (wife Sheri), Anthony (wife Annette), and Timothy (wife Amanda), their families, and many extended relatives.  

An informal memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2019, at 2PM, at the Theodore Wirth Park Pavilion, 3275 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405.  Remembrances begin at 3PM. In lieu of gifts, please send donations in Johanna’s honor to either the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Carleton College.

Published on September 24, 2019