Obituary: Marlene Johnson

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

Marlene Johnson passed away at the age of 87 on December 20, 2021. She succumbed to dementia disease after a long struggle.

Dear Mom We say goodbye today

and sorrow is part of our day

Your hair has now turned black to grey

the sparkle in your eye has faded away

Don’t worry Mom, This is NOT how we will remember you

Marlene was born on June 30th, 1934, to Charles and Euphemia Maatta, the oldest of what would be seven siblings, Tom, Nancy, Ralph, Julie, Paul, and Marty. She lived in the Copper Country for almost her entire life except for the two years she spent with her new husband, Carl Johnson, in Ashland, right after they were united in matrimony on June 28th, 1952.

Marlene and Carl began dating in 1950 while she was working as a waitress on Fifth Street in Calumet. Marlene’s “SISU” showed through during this time. It was important to the family for her to contribute support as they had lost their father and youngest brother Ralph in a tragic drowning accident when she was 16. Even working an everyday job, helping her Mom with the younger kids, being in local sports, and dating Carl, she still managed to graduate towards the top of her class academically. She always needled my Dad that her grade point average was higher than his, and he qualified for Jeopardy!

Marlene and Carl began their family in 1954 with the birth of the oldest son Alan, followed by Fay, Ralph, and Glen. She was a great mother to all of us and she dedicated her life to raising us until the youngest was in high school. She then began her working career and started out with H&R Block and finally ended up working at the Copper Country Intermediate School District for ten years until she retired.

Marlene was very active in the Copper Country sports scene supporting her children’s activities and was an accomplished golfer and bowler herself. She even won the Calumet Golf Club Championship and had many years of having one of the top averages in her bowling league.

She was a hoot when it came to having parties. Her Halloween costumes were all creations of her own from a hairy chested pirate complete with eye patch and all the regalia, an Elvis Presley, to a 7-foot-tall robot with a painted, long necked, papier maché creation for a head, and many more. She often won best costume award for these outfits. Her grandchildren often rummaged through the attic to see if they could recreate these costumes for one of their outings.

Marlene was locally famous for her holiday creations in the kitchen as well. In the fall she made homemade caramel apples and for Halloween she made the best popcorn balls. She did this for several decades. For Halloween quite a few parents would drive their kids to our house from other neighborhoods so that their kids could get a popcorn ball. She would make hundreds of these each year and they were delicious! For Christmas she would make a dozen or so varieties of Christmas Candy along with her exquisite peanut brittle. Us kids were “volunteered” to meticulously wrap these individual candies and put them in 50 or so Christmas wrapped boxes. We would then deliver them to family and friends throughout the Copper Country.

After her husband and Marlene were both retired, they were able to spend time with their children and grandchildren and travel a great deal. They enjoyed many trips to some of their favorite destinations as well as a trip to Hawaii which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Although Dementia has taken you away

We won’t forget the love you did display

Or the times you found ways to play

And the life you lived in your own special way

Don’t worry Mom, we’ll remember these.

She is survived by her children Alan (Delores) Johnson, Fay (Jim) Mattson, Ralph (Virgina) Johnson, and Glen Johnson. She is also survived by her sister Julie (Jerry) Kangas, and brothers Paul (Marilyn) and Marty (Sandra) Pylvainen. Marlene is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 23rd, 2021, at 1:00 pm, in the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home with Pastor Jared Howard to officiate. Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Online condolences can be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com