Caroline Louise Johnson

Caroline Louise Johnson (née Muller) of Willow Springs, Illinois, passed away at home on October 1, 2025, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was laid to rest at Bronswood Cemetery in Oak Brook, Illinois, near her parents and her sister Debbie.

Caroline was born on November 2, 1965, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the fourth of five children of Robert and Gladys Muller. She grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, where she developed her lifelong love of music, literature, and learning. Gifted with striking beauty, Caroline was once offered a modeling contract with Ford Models, which she declined, preferring a life defined by substance rather than appearance. She was also an accomplished pianist, but chose not to pursue a performing career. Instead, she dedicated herself to education, serving for more than two decades as an English instructor and Academic Advisor at Morton College, where she guided and uplifted students-especially those from marginalized communities.

Caroline's brilliance was matched by her humility. Though she possessed a keen intellect, she never sought recognition for it, instead using her gifts to advocate for others. She championed the underdog, reminding young people of their worth and potential. Her devotion extended to her family, where she was "Aunt Caroline" in the fullest sense-nurturing, playful, and deeply engaged in the lives of her nieces and nephews.

An accomplished poet, Caroline published two collections (The Caregiver and The Language of Cancer), three chapbooks, and earned a Pushcart Prize nomination along with numerous awards. She served in leadership roles with Poets and Patrons and was a longtime member of the Illinois State Poetry Society, Highland Park Poetry, and the P2 Collective. She also led workshops for veterans and emerging writers, covering subjects from spirituality to speculative poetry. Caroline was admired not only for her work but for her tireless encouragement of others, creating opportunities for poets of all ages and backgrounds to be heard.

Together with her beloved husband, Bill Johnson, Caroline extended her gift for community by co-founding a welcoming and inclusive Chicago-area open mic, where artists of every genre, identity, and background were celebrated. The couple also brought music into rest homes and hospitals, Bill on guitar and Caroline on piano or guitar, both singing, sharing light and comfort in difficult places. Their marriage, which came later in life, was a true partnership built on love, creativity, and shared purpose. Bill remained by Caroline's side throughout her final days, steadfast in his devotion. He felt privileged to hold her hand as she passed away.

Caroline also found joy in the quiet rhythms of nature. She and Bill spent many happy vacations hiking and canoeing on the North Shore of Lake Superior. At home, she cherished her cats, Rumble and Squirt, who were her constant companions.

Caroline is survived by her husband, Bill Johnson; siblings Rebecca McLaughlan (Terrence), Robert Muller Jr (Monica), and Brenda Ellis (Erich Grossman), and nieces and nephews Megan and Michael McLaughlan, Robert Muller III, Luke Muller, Chloe Ellis, and Jacob Ellis. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Gladys Muller, and her sister, Deborah Lee Muller.

Caroline was a rare and remarkable person-intelligent, compassionate, creative, and unfailingly generous. Her legacy lives on in her writing, her music, the students she guided, the poets she nurtured, and the family and friends who loved her dearly.