MADISON — Frances H. Johnson, age 89, passed away peacefully at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg on Saturday, July 8.

She was born Aug. 2, 1927, in La Valle, Wis., one of five children of dairy farmers Joseph and Hilda (Nussbaum) Vosen. She graduated from high school in Lime Ridge, Wis., and moved to Madison in the mid-1940s to work and begin her life’s adventures. In 1948 she married Rodney C. Johnson, USAF, in Monroe, Wis., a marriage that lasted 62 years.

Fran traveled the country with her husband throughout the 1950s as part of his military career — Alabama, South Carolina, Maine — exploring each new venue enthusiastically “because we will not be passing this way again.”

She had an unerring sense of perspective about life. Fran was among the few “supermoms” long before the term was coined, the only housewife in her neighborhood to join the workforce full time in 1960. She worked for Sears, Roebuck in Madison in accounting and ordering and later for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in corporate taxes, retiring in the 1980s. She took great pride in her home, planning remodeling and upgrades with care throughout a half century up until her last few years.

In spite of being anxious about being on the water, she tackled another adventure by braving the Madison lakes to become her husband’s primary fishing partner for many years. She was also his caregiver until his passing at home in 2010.

Fran is survived by her son, Donald, of Waunakee; and grandson, Jared (Kristy) of Evanston, Ill.; and her brother, Harold (Joan) Vosen of Phoenix; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Rodney; an infant granddaughter; her brothers, Ted and Donald; and her sister, Betty Hilmer.

Special thanks go to Agrace Hospice staff with whom she shared a special connection and whose loving care made her feel at home for many months.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at NOON on Friday, July 14, 2017, at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, with Msgr. Charles Schluter presiding. A visitation will be held from 11 AM until time of Mass on Friday at the church. Burial will be at Blooming Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711, and to St. Peter’s Catholic Church. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Frances Johnson

August 02, 1927 - July 08, 2017

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