Carol Ardis Johnson

Carol Ardis Johnson

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Carol Ardis (Pokallus) Johnson, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Carol, who once went 49 years without seeing a doctor, was not a big fan of being in the hospital. Very often she said that she just wanted to "live until she died". And she did just that! Passing away just shy of her 85th birthday, or as Carol liked to call it, "level 85", she lived a full life right up until the very end.

It was after a fall on Wednesday, September 24th requiring femur and hip surgery, that while in the hospital, other health complications arose. But those "complications" didn't phase Carol one bit. She told every medical provider who would listen that she was ready to "shuffle off to Buffalo" and that her "shelf-life had expired" (in addition to letting them know her strong feelings about "Bobby" Kennedy).

Carol was born on October 8, 1940 in the Town of Texas, Marathon Co., Wisconsin, the youngest child of Albert Herbert and Martha Elizabeth (Clendenin) Pokallus. She grew up in Marshfield, attending Immanuel Lutheran School and Marshfield Senior High School. As a little girl, despite having two older brothers away at war, she held fond memories of growing up in the 1940s alongside her childhood best friend, Ardell (Treutel) Eckes, and of proudly winning a contest for having the longest pigtails.

She married William "Billy" Bradle, Jr. They later divorced. As a young woman she lived briefly in Stevens Point, and then spend some years in Madison -holding many wonderful memories of her time in Madison -before returning to Marshfield. She married David Charles Johnson, and together they made their home and grew their family- now over 50 strong- in the Marshfield area.

Carol, truly the matriarch of the family, was always known for her wit and wisdom. She often said "we come from good peasant stock", and she wasn't wrong. The granddaughter of Millie May, and daughter of Martha, like those before her, Carol was the epitome of a strong and independent woman. By all accounts, all her daughters, granddaughters, and even her great-granddaughters have inherited those traits from her.

Around Carol there was no whining or "bellyaching". As she often told her children, she "complained of having no shoes, until [she] saw the man with no feet". She was a hard worker, and didn't sugarcoat anything! When her youngest, Julie, or as Julie often remembers being called, "Vicki-Suzie-Kathy-Terri-oh-whatever-your-name-is" was nine months pregnant and voiced some anxiety about the upcoming labor and delivery, Carol replied, "Julie, you have a to job do. Now get in there and do it! " Perhaps that was a reasonable response from Carol, who had not only birthed nine children, but had delivered two of the nine at home, by herself, with just her "Bible and cigarettes". With such a big family, inevitably some would comment that the family must be "good Catholics", but Carol would set the record straight with her standard lighthearted response, "not good Catholics, just careless Lutherans".

In 1969 Carol and David moved out to their Staadt Road home (then called Route 4) where their kids and grandkids have the fondest of memories: family cookouts, running around the apple orchard, big Sunday chicken dinners with Grandma Pokallus, which eventually evolved into Sundays filled with Carol's chili and watching the Packers, and of course - everyone's favorite memory- the absolutely legendary Christmas mornings, with everyone "crammed" in the living room, and so many gifts under the tree that there wasn't even enough room to walk.

On Mother's Day 1984, the Marshfield New Herald columnist Jack Cody, of "Cody's World", wrote that she was the "funniest mom" and bestowed on Carol the "Erma Bombeck Award of 1984". He asked her what she does in her spare time, and she is quoted in the article saying, "I volunteer at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Library. I loiter a lot. And I like to write short stories". When asked about being named the funniest mom in Marshfield, she replied, "Of all the awards, that's the one I wanted to receive".

In addition to being very witty, and sharp as a tack until the very end, Carol was incredibly wise, wickedly smart, a lifelong learner, and was always up on the latest news, politics, and technology. She loved listening to NPR and watching anything on PBS. She had a thirst for reading, and especially loved a good mystery. She took writing classes, and had a passion for writing. In the 1980s she had multiple articles published, including in national magazines such as Good Old Days. But it might have been the Christmas Recollection that she authored under the pen name Santa Claus that was the most meaningful to her. That year the Marshfield News Herald started a Christmas recollection series and Carol submitted a recollection as Santa Claus, about what he saw on his annual stop in Marshfield. She waited every day all month, but day in and day out her recollection was never printed. Then on December 23, 1978 (the last day the paper was printed prior to Christmas that year) her recollection appeared in red ink on the front page of paper!

While she still had kids at home, Carol worked for a number of years as an assistant manager at B. Dalton Bookseller in Marshfield. Later, for many years up until her retirement, she worked for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

In 2005 Carol and David downsized and moved out to their new little home in the woods on Blackberry Road in the the Town of Wien, Marathon Co. They resided there until David's passing in January 2022, when Carol moved to a duplex in Marshfield.

Outside of work, Carol, with David by her side, spent a good part of the last 40-50 years doing genealogy research. No doubt they spent thousands of hours reviewing microfilm, requesting records, traveling to Southern Illinois to visit old cemeteries, trying to translate old German writings, and preserving their families' heritage.

While she leaves behind her treasured documents, family trees, stories, and photos of generations past, more importantly she leaves behind her legacy of love in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Carol was proceed in death by her parents, Albert and Martha Pokallus; her husband, David, in 2022; Three daughters, Cynthia "Cindy" Louise in infancy, Kathlyn "Kathy" Carol in 2014, and Kristina "Kris" Ann in 2021; A granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Babcock, in infancy; and a son-in law, Alphonse Merkel; All of her siblings and their spouses: James Sweeney, Lola (Art) Sterzinger, Ralph (Thelma) Pokallus, Lawrence (Joyce) Pokallus, Gloria (Norman) Frey, Carl Pokallus (in infancy), and Dale (Anita) Pokallus.

She is survived by her six children, Victoria "Vicki" Merkel, Stratford; Susan "Sue" (Lee) Babcock, Marshfield; Teresa "Terri" (Todd) Seehafer, Tecumseh, MI; Dennis (Marilyn) Bradle, Marshfield; Mark Johnson, Stratford; and Julie (Deric) Duquaine, Appleton.

She is further survived by her 16 grandchildren: Andrew "Andy" Merkel, Japan; Ryan (Jessica) Merkel, Stratford; and Ethan Merkel, Stratford. Amanda (Jeff) Leurquin, Marshfield; and Jason (Sarah) Babcock, Appleton. Melissa (Gabe) Kasper, Ypsilanti, MI; and Tyler (Shannon) Seehafer, Dundee, MI; Keri (Zabdiel) Rasmussen Rosario, Gurnee, IL; Kelly Rasmussen, Auburndale; and Aaron (Sarah) Bradle, Onalaska; Bradley Fisher, Little Suamico; Jordan (Raquel) Fisher, Pulaski; Alexander Fisher, Green Bay; Trevor Fisher, Green Bay; and Madison Nikolai, Madison; and Annabelle Duquaine, Appleton.

She is further survived by her 23 great grandchildren:

Elle and Jace Merkel; Finnian, Theodosia "Teddi" and Archer Leurquin; Gavin and Elijah Babcock; Titus, Lila and Levi Kasper; Kalayla, Kya and Tye Seehafer; Valentina and Amalia Rasmussen Rosario; Brett and Lucas Kreklau; Landon and Keira Bradle; Carson and Alaina Fisher; and Jillian and Claire Fisher.

A celebration of life honoring Carol will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Carol, those interested may consider a donation to NPR or PBS.

Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is currently assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at MECS.WS.