Johnston, Dorothy J. "Dottie" Entered into Eternal Life on August 28, 2017, at age 80. Dorothy was born on March 10, 1937, and grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from Washington High School in 1955. She attended the University of Oshkosh where she met the love of her life Herbert D. Johnston "Dan" whom she married in 1959. Preceded in death by her parents Henry and Lydia (nee Meisner) Elsesser, her husband Herbert Dan Johnston and her brother Henry "Hank" Elsesser. Survived by her aunt Dorothy (Nee Meisner) Eggert, her sister Joyce (Edwin) Domissee, sister in law Lenora "Sue" (Nee Bradshaw) Elsesser and her sons Daniel and Matthew (Fenesha) Johnston. Proud grandmother of Jocelyn, Liliana and Nathaniel Johnston. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Dorothy was a committed Christian and was involved at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield for many years. Dorothy also loved to sing and play piano and passed that love along to her children. Visitation will take place onSunday, September 10, from 1:00 to 3:00PM, with a service celebrating Dorothy's life at 3:00PM, at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capital Dr., Shorewood, WI 53211.

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Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sep. 3, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy Johnston

Sponsored by Feerick Funeral Home - Shorewood.

5 Entries

Joyce Dommisse

September 13, 2017

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

My sister, Dorothy Johnston, was a Christian who loved the Lord her entire life. I am beyond thankful that she is now at peace and is enjoying the wonders of heaven at this every moment. All of us will miss her humor, her spirit, and the unique quality she had to empathize with virtually everyone - people of all ages and backgrounds. Dorothy will be remembered with love always.

Matt Johnston

September 13, 2017

What can I say about my mom? My mom, more than anything, was my example of
unconditional love. Mom waited so long to have kids by no fault of her own. I think that
made her appreciate her children that much more. When I made a mistake, she was more likely to love first, instead of saying I told you so. I knew the correction was coming, but she always
wanted to make sure I was ok fist. My mom grew up in a blue collar neighborhood on
Milwaukees North Side made up mostly of German immigrants. Her father, Henry
Elsesser (my grandfather) immigrated from Russia when he was a boy during the events leading up to World War One, when the safety of their family was in jeopardy. He came from a
town in Russia that was populated mostly by those of German heritage. Mom was
raised attending baptist church each week, with bible studies in between, and was
taught to live an honest, hardworking, trustworthy life.
As many know, my mother lost our father to a fatal heart attack on September 20th, 1976.
During the years that followed, she relied heavily on her faith, the fellowship of her
family, and her friends from Emlbrook church for support. People who knew her well knew she
struggled with anxiety and depression after losing my father. Raising us without a
partner was never easy but she always put us first. She wasnt about to let just any
man be our father. He would have to earn it! And, as it turned out, another father never
came. One thing I can say about mom is that whatever she told us about right and
wrong is what she lived out to the best of her ability..She loved to golf which was an
interest first introduced to her by our father. She also loved bowling and used to be on a
competitive league, and loved to watch good movies which was all started when she
was a kid watching them at the Egyptian theatre on Milwaukees North Side.
As my brother Dan has said, mom believed strongly in the transcendent power of music!
My mom played piano, sang in the church and at home and my brother and I began
singing and playing instruments at an early age. As kids, my brother and I listened to a
lot of heavy metal music which my mother never cared for, but she never disrespected
us by saying it was garbage just because she didnt like it. As I grew older, I began to
listen to many Jazz musicians and pop singers from her era like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank
Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and others. We
also listened together to 60s soul music like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The
Temptations and the Four Tops. As children she took us to see live performances from
Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Neil Diamond among others. As an adult,
we went together to see many live performances including Tony Bennet, Joe Williams,
Sonny Rollins, Mcoy Tyner from John Coltranes Quartet, BB King,Lyle Lovett, Buddy
Guy, John Hiatt and many other musicians we shared an interest in. That was always
one of our common threads: our belief in the power of music. Aside from seeing me
happily married, one her goals, of course, was to have grandchildren. Once my brother
and I reached our thirties without any kids she would often say I think Ill die before I
have any grandchildren. Yes, she could be melodramatic at times, but, eventually, we
felt the need to prove her wrong.
The first time I told her she would be a grandparent, she was beside herself with joy,
even more so once that child arrived! The next five years brought two more beloved
grandchildren for her to adore.She was the most loving grandmother anyone could ask
for. She didnt drive very far from home in her later years so she would take a shuttle
van to my house once a week to visit the kids and I. All she would talk about to the van
drivers and anyone else was her grandchildren, how wonderful they are and how much
she loved them and the rest of her family. The last time I remember mom being
conscious was about two weeks before she passed. That day she was kissing her
grandchildren until she nearly ran out of breath and had to rest. In her last few months
she didnt talk much and wasnt in the best of spirits. Many of the conversations I wished
we could have had toward the very end were impossible to have due to her condition
and state of mind. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the life she
lived and the love she gave us was all I needed and all I could have asked her for.
There wasnt a need to hash out old grudges or regrets because there were none-just a
life well lived and ready to be remembered, with fondness. In the end, thats the best gift
she could have given us.

September 10, 2017

Dear Dan and Matt,

Alan and I send our most sincere sympathy and prayers for your healing. Your mom was such a beautiful person and I feel happy that I had the chance to meet her. She raised two amazing sons!

Love,

Carmen and Alan

Jonathan Engel

September 10, 2017

Hello, old friends. I was a preoccupied teenager when I met your mom, and I missed out on getting to know her very well-- I just remember her being real nice, and a pretty cool lady. What I didn't miss out on was how she facilitated a rich environment for you, your friends and all the other people and things involved with your wide ranging interests. There was always some interesting new thing to explore, and she provided you means to do it.

You've each inspired me and many others in different ways over the years, and one person is primarily responsible for clearing the path so that could happen. I feel for your great loss. Take care, guys.

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Matt DeBruine

September 3, 2017

Matt and Dan,

My most sincere condolences and prayers are with you and your family. I have such found memories of our time in the old Westbrook neighborhood where your house was always so full of fun, activity (tree houses, ninja adventures, listening to you guys jam in the basement, and good natured boyhood shenanigans) and most importantly, love. That all starts and ends with your mom. She was always so sweet and kind. Matt, I will say this until the day I die. You were the best friend I ever had, those years growing up. I can't help but think that your mom had much to do with how true blue and kind you are.

God Bless you guys and God Bless you Mrs. J. You're home with the Lord now.

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