Carolyn Kris Johnson

Carolyn Kristin (Kris) Johnson, of Williston, Ohio, died unexpectedly after a brief illness on Friday, December 29, 2017. She was born to Oscar and Esther (Micheels) Lyders on June 9, 1933 in Fremont, Nebraska. She graduated from Fremont High School, St. Olaf College with a B.S. in Chemistry, and from Michigan State University with an M.S. in Nutrition. She met Carl William Johnson, her husband of 50 years, when Luther Seminary students were invited to a Halloween party at St. Olaf. They were married in Fremont, Nebraska on May 26, 1956. Following Bill Johnson’s ordination in 1956, they moved to Worchester, Massachusetts, where their daughter, Dorothy, was born. Their son, Mark, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, where Bill attended mission school. In 1961, the Johnson family began a four-year mission in Tanzania, Africa. Their son, Peter, was born in Arusha, Tanzania. Upon their return to the states, they moved to Lansing, Michigan, where Kris began her long career of volunteering for Girl and Boy Scouts, P.E.O. and her beloved Lutheran church. In 1970, the family moved to Pontiac, Michigan. As her children grew older, Kris began pursuing her interest in nutrition by taking classes at Wayne State University. She completed her Master’s degree in 1976. She began her career as a nutrition consultant at the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency. In 1978, Kris’ family moved to Williston, Ohio, where they joined St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, and became active members of the choir and bible studies. Kris pursued her love of native plants and organic wildlife-friendly gardening, eventually becoming a Master Gardener with a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat. She worked for 17 years as a Registered Dietitian, first at Parkview Hospital and later at University of Toledo Medical Center. After her retirement in 1995, she became more involved in her many volunteer activities, including serving as an officer in many of the following organizations: Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); P.E.O. Sisterhood; The Weston A. Price Foundation (winning a 2017 Activist Award); Scandinavian Club of Toledo; Toledo Choral Society; C-J Farm Club; Northwest Ohio High Brix Gardening group; Our Revolution NW Ohio; Global Ministry and Mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod ELCA. Kris’ interests and activities are detailed at her website: http://www.mercyviewmeadow.org. Kris is survived by her daughter, Dorothy Lynn Johnson of Lansing, Michigan; sons, Mark William Johnson (Jeanne Longmuir) of Cleveland and Peter Carl Johnson (Caryn Padgett) of Graytown; grandchildren, Emily and William; and brother, William O. (Phyllis) Lyders of Arizona. Her parents, husband, and sister, Dorothy Lyders, preceded her in death. A private interment was held January 2, 2018, in Clay Township Cemetery, Genoa, Ohio. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 13, 2018, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Williston, Ohio, with a reception following. The family has suggested memorials for Kris be given to The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPFToledo.org) or St. John Lutheran Church, 21140 W. Toledo St., P.O. Box 235, Williston, OH 43468. The Robinson-Walker Funeral Home Crematory of Genoa has assisted the family with arrangements.