Donna Mae Johnson

Donna Mae (Pantzke) Johnson, devoted wife, loving mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2024 at the age of 86.

Funeral service held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, MN, at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Carl Larson officiating. Visitation held from 9:00-11:00 A.M., at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls on Friday, December 27. Burial in Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls. Caring for Donna and her family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls.

Donna grew up in Culdrum Township and Little Falls, MN. She loved to tell stories of visiting all her favorite childhood cousins, neighbors, friends and then "catching Hap's eye" when she biked by his home that was just up the road from her. Donna graduated from Little Falls High School in 1956. She attended teachers training school, taught in a country schoolhouse for a year, and then worked at Crestliner. On May 10, 1958, Donna married Harold "Hap" Johnson. Their marriage of 66 years was filled with extraordinary love and care for one another. Together they ran a business in Little Falls until 1993. They loved traveling around the world, fishing and pontooning with friends and family on Lake Alexander. Donna would say that as long as Hap was by her side, she would go anywhere. She truly loved him with her whole heart. Donna also loved to sing and had a song for everything. She was actively involved at Bethel Lutheran Church for the majority of her life. She had a servant's heart, singing in the choir, and helping with Sunday school and all events there. For her family, Donna was an excellent cook and loved to be a hostess. She was always asking if she could get you something. Donna had a deep love for her family and friends. She was a wonderful role model of what a wife, mom and grandma could be.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband Harold "Hap," of 66 years; children, Jill Johnson (Steve Karnopp), Bradley (Sheryl) Johnson, Kit (Patrick) Girtz, and Robert (Christina) Johnson; seven grandchildren, Nils (Larissa) Johnson, Aaron (Kayla) Johnson, Lauren (Justin) Berns, Matthew (Claire) Girtz, Carly (Dylan) Sende, Camilla and Anika Johnson; and five great-grandchildren, Jay and Gunner Johnson, Milena Girtz, Cecilia and Hazel Berns. Her siblings include her sister, Yvonne Kalahar.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Alice Pantzke; brothers, Edwin "Sonny" Pantzke and Wallace "Wally" Pantzke; and sister, Margie Backowski.

Donna will be remembered as a generous, kind woman of faith who loved her family and friends. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by many. Our family appreciates all the hugs, gifts, kind thoughts and prayers.