Geraldine Johnson, lover of life and laughter, a Rider and curling fan, card shark, Al-Anon advocate, bingo buff, burner of roast beef, 150 decibel TV volume turner-upper, iPad enthusiast, Mom, Grandma, matriarch, aunt, sister and friend, passed peacefully on February 11, 2022, her Spirit off to greener pastures.
Geraldine was the oldest of eight, born in 1941 to Dorothy and Art Johnson of Bracken, SK. The family moved to Climax, SK, where Grandma taught, Grandpa worked for Dept. of Hwys., and mom made forever memories, often sharing stories of shenanigans and fun, love and laughter, the glue of small town Saskatchewan. Years later, and to this day, the excitement of coming to the river hills can’t be explained, you knew Climax was just ahead.
The humble Johnson home: grandma‘s strawberry dessert and quiet demeanor, grandpa‘s questionable but hilarious blue language, plaid shirts and suspenders, and always losing at rummy if you played against him, junk drawer treasures, the Cafe, the noon siren, the huge garden, the pool hall, grandpa coming down the road in his grader, pumping water, the creak and smell of Gryde’s old wooden floors, blue melamine dishes, great-grandma’s little house, Coke in glass bottles, Pete the shoemaker, people constantly in and out of the old screen door, Archie comics piled in the front porch, always someone with a baby or a toddler, people, kids, noise, excitement, confusion, nonstop hustle and bustle. The party line, Darlene eating Kleenex (inside joke), family rummoli, Alec teasing everyone: we were the “Manitoba Frenchmen” for a long time, Ronnie always giggling and good natured, Kenny driving too fast in one of his cars, Vic discerning, looking at the commotion and joining in the fun, quiet, gentle Barb, fun, good-natured Jan who took me with girlfriends on an afternoon of back roads driving in Grandpa’s car, and laughing till you almost cried. They were the very best of times and something mom made sure we experienced every summer: the insanity and blessings of family. She loved this area of Saskatchewan, it was home, she moved back in her 50’s to help care for Grandpa, eventually settling in Shaunavon.
Gerry gave her heart, she had a personal bond with those souls she met and befriended in Al-Anon and Alateen. When arthritis prevented her from continuing to nurse, she returned to school, working for SK Addictions & Drug Abuse Commission. Her new friends ensured there were hours, and years of fun, travel, dances, round-ups, laughter, new driving lessons, very often not being able to get through on the phone because someone was always calling. Her co-conspirators and forever friends were Ruth, Delphine, Sylvia, Virginia, Sandra, Ron and Shannon. Thank you for your light and friendship all these years.
Mom was predeceased by her mom, Dorothy Johnson in 1976, son Doug Denis in 1986, father Art Johnson in 1996, brother Vic Johnson in 2000, sister Jan Carleton in 2005 and nephew Terry Weinmeyer in 2016.
After losing Doug, there was a hole in mom’s heart no one could fill. She couldn’t wait to see Doug again; we trusted and knew he was waiting for her.
Geraldine is survived and celebrated by daughters Pam Denis (Barry Iles) and Debby Denis, sister-in-law Leota Johnson of Moose Jaw, sister Barb (Willy) Weinmeyer of Calgary, Ron Johnson of Frontier, Alec (Barb) Johnson of North Battleford, Ken (Annette) Johnson of Moose Jaw, Brian (Jacqueline) Carleton of Big River, and Darlene (Ed) Zufelt of Frontier.
Also surviving are Mom’s beloved nieces and nephews: Tanya Johnson, Bob (Lori) Heshka, Steve Weinmeyer, Sandra Weinmeyer-Baker, Greg Johnson (Susan Davies), Randy Johnson, Lane Johnson, Neil (Sarah) Johnson, Carmen (Kirtus) Andrejcin, Nathan (Kim) Johnson, Jenna McGuire (Kevin Deyell) and Trevor Carleton (Cari Evenson Carleton) and 19 of their children.
To our cousins: thank you for your love, kindness, teasing (“Speedy”), visits, phone calls and ipad support when we couldn’t get down there to help. She was so very proud of all of you, and for good reason, besides being phenomenal human beings, here’s a list of family occupations that would make anyone proud: teachers, principal, school psychologist, Vice Principal, Special Ed teacher, a PhD or two, an MD, social workers, electricians, a welder, a stone mason, a pumper of gas, accountants, city worker, parts tech, railway worker, Administrative shufflers of paper, nurses, youth care worker, highways supervisor, aircraft mtce engineer, waitress, bank manager, plumber, electrical contractor, bank employee, homemaker, sales folks, artists, librarian, farmers, paramedic, heavy duty mechanic, IT Manager, and computer geeks.
Mom is also survived and especially proud of her grandchildren. They are her greatest accomplishment and her legacy to this world. They are charged and expected to carry on the Johnson kindness: Grandson Grant Hawes (Bronwyn Balderson), Scott Denny, Amanda Iles (Brad Butz), Amie Iles (Derek Eskowich), Ryan Williams (Kamal Chhabain), and Sydney Williams (Tyler Prokopiuk); fur friends: Gizmo, Echo, Lola, Sabbath, Winnie, Leo and Cami.
Honourable mention has to go to the beautiful town of Shaunavon, a place where mom could have her groceries delivered (thank you Coop), where Deb Libke-Mickler feeds everyone like royalty, and helps with anything else, (thank you Deb) Brenda Z would help with anything mom needed or wanted, (thank you Brenda) and, mom had a beautiful home to live in these past years. (thank you Shaunavon Housing Authority) Thank you Elsie and ladies, for the years of card playing and friendship. Finally, an immense and humble thank you to Grace Hospice in Regina for helping with mom’s transition to Spirit.
“In the final hour it’s not what you leave to them that makes them great, it’s what you leave in them.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do something kind for somebody else unexpectedly, and without explanation.
Until we meet again …
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Geraldine L Gerry Johnson February 11th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Regina, Province: Saskatchewan