Barbara Johnson Obituary

Barbara Johnson
Born: June 3, 1939 in Alton, IL
Died: December 19, 2024 in Downers Grove, IL
Barbara Ruth Johnson (nee Rehn), 85, a lifelong resident of Downers Grove died December 19, 2024. She graduated from Downers Grove Community High School in 1957. Barbara earned an education degree from Illinois State University and went to National College of Education for her Master's Degree. She was involved in theater in school. Barbara was a kindergarten teacher at Lester School in Downers Grove and Scheiser School in Lisle. She also volunteered at the Downers Grove Public Library. Later in life she volunteered full-time at Manor Care in Westmont as an activities director. She thoroughly enjoyed providing fun opportunities for the senior citizens who lived there. She was honored with The Volunteer of the Year Award from the State of Illinois for her dedication. She enjoyed scrapbooking, gardening, embroidery, genealogy and spending summer weekends at the family cottage in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ross Johnson and her sister, Nancy Gilabert. She was preceded in death by her parents Irene and Ivan Rehn. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Nuria Gilabert, Jordi Gilabert, Stephen (Penelope) Johnson, Kay Johnson, Chris (Sue) Johnson, Wendy (John) Leick, Amy (Stanley) Balicki, Elizabeth Bull, Nathan (Angela) Homberg, John (Brooke Sharrer) Homberg & Graham (Kyle) Homberg and many great nieces and nephews. She was close to her nieces and nephews, valuing the time they spent together over the years.