Valerene E. Johnson

Valerene Evelyn Johnson (nee Donnelly) born on April 22, 1934, to James Keith and Alta (Gardiner) Donnelly, passed away on May 2, 2026.

Val grew up on the farm with 9 siblings. She graduated from Dunn County Normal High School (Aggie). She married the love of her life, Kenneth Leroy Johnson, on December 15, 1952. They began married life on the Johnson home farm. They lived in Louisiana while Ken was in the military. They lived and worked in the Beloit/Racine area before moving back to the farm. They celebrated their 73th wedding anniversary last year.

While Val never had children of her own, she poured love and care into her many nieces, nephews and the children of her friends. She invested time with them all with things like walks by the river, sleep-overs, bedtime stories and card games (oh, the games of Spoons that were played). She was full of life, had a great sense of humor and was incredibly kind. She loved Ken, her family, owls and thrift sales. She had a great eye for jewelry and amassed a large collection. She was the queen of knick knacks. She and Ken enjoyed people and all kinds of gatherings. She was the family organizer. She will be sorely missed and well remembered for the picnics under the pines and the family Christmas Eve gathering at their home and then at the town hall. She was a member of Royal Neighbors and Caddie Woodlawn Homemakers for many years. She was an excellent sewer and made many quilts and crafts over the years. She was a member of the Forest Center Church of the Nazerene where she taught Sunday School and helped with Vacation Bible School.

She is survived by husband, Ken; sisters June Braford, Helen Christianson and Sue (Art) Alf; brother, Loyd (Karen) Donnelly, sister-in-law Joyce Donnelly, brothers-in-law John Miller and Fred (Kathy) Johnson; many, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, mother- and father-in-law, Ellen and Oscar Johnson; her beloved dog Missy, sisters Grace Hurlburt, Essie Donnelly, Phyllis Alf, Ruby Miller and brother, Richard Donnelly; sister-in-law Evelyn Barnhart; brothers-in-law Robert Barnhart, James Engeldinger, Richard Braford, Fred Alf, Carl Hurlburt, and Lyle Christianson.

A Memorial service for Ken and Val will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026 at Olson Funeral Home with Celebrant Teresa Pejsa officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Fall City Cemetery in the Town of Spring Brook, Dunn County, WI.

To share a memory, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com