Marilyn Jean Johnson

Marilyn Jean Johnson Okemos Jean passed into her Lord's kingdom on August 17, 2009, peacefully with her family beside her. Jean was born on July 28, 1930, to Jacob A. and Eleanora C. (Pung) Siegrist in Lansing, MI. She graduated from St. Mary's High School and remained a lifelong resident of the Lansing area until her death at age 79. Jean was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who really enjoyed spending time with children. She took great joy in attending all the various plays, sporting events and school functions in which her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were involved. Early in life she was an active bowler in many local women's leagues, and once was named bowler of the week in the LSJ after rolling her first 500 series. This event became a piece of family folklore. She always enjoyed traveling and took several trips to Europe, the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, most of the 50 states, numerous trips to Branson, MO, and late in life became a snowbird, spending some winter months in Florida. As a retiree of Ingham Medical Center, Jean enjoyed many friendships with her co-workers and still had a monthly breakfast with several of them. Jean was always an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran church, where she played leadership roles in many of the womens groups and circles throughout the years. She particularly enjoyed bible study and the Faith circle. Jean also volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Jean is survived by her husband, Thomas C. Johnson; two sons, Ray (Sandy) and David (Jeanne) Buhl; her daughter, Kathy (Dave) Kreiger; sister-in-law, Natalie Bruinsma; stepchildren, Cheryl Van Patten and Tom (Julie) Johnson; three grandchildren, Shaina and D. Kegan Buhl, and Christian Kreiger; seven step-grandchildren, Phillip and Eric Kreiger, Katie (Tommy) Beck, Jeffrey, Robert, and Frederick Van Patten, and Heather Johnson; three step-great-grandchildren, Samantha and Alexander Van Patten and Harley Johnson; one special nephew, Robert (Patti) Bruinsma; along with many other nieces and nephews that she loved very much. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her five brothers and sisters, Violet, Mildred, Norman, Alfred and Urban; and her first husband, David V. Buhl. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing, MI. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, on Thursday, August 20, 2009 from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Food Bank in her memory.