Mark Allen "Spider" Johnston

Mark Allen Johnston, 64, of Augusta, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 6, 2025, at Augusta Health and Rehabilitation and in the care of Mayo Home Hospice.

Mark was born on April 24, 1960, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the son of Dean and Rosalie (Picazo) Johnston. At the age of five, Mark's family moved to a farm in Fremont, WI, where he began his education in a one-room country school house. When he was ten, the family returned to the Johnston family farm in rural Augusta. He graduated from Augusta High School in 1979.

Mark's life was marked by resilience. At age 12, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent radiation treatment. The challenges he faced delayed his schooling, but he persevered and completed his education. After high school, Mark remained on the farm, working alongside his father and sister, Joan.

On the farm, Mark preferred to work behind the scenes-feeding cows, handling maintenance, and fixing equipment. He had a remarkable ability to improvise repairs, often swapping parts from one machine to another to keep things running until permanent fixes could be made. He wasn't fond of field work, his value was in keeping things functioning, doing so at a slow and steady pace.

In his spare time, Mark enjoyed woodworking and spent many hours in his shop crafting cabinets and other pieces for both family and friends. Despite the physical challenges he endured, he remained active and fearless-known to climb silos, fix roofs and tackle tough jobs with a wiry energy and quiet determination.

In addition to farming, Mark also had hobbies he enjoyed as well. He looked forward to the annual deer hunts in Wisconsin, and especially his fishing trips to Canada with longtime friends Donnie Bauch and Dennis Rose. Mark had a close relationship with his nephew Kenneth, who he worked alongside with on the farm and earlier in Kenneth's life, helped with his homework, took him to movies, football games, and supported him with his FFA projects through the FFA Alumni Association, which he was a member of.

Mark enjoyed watching science fiction on television and in the earlier years, watching MASH and the Johnny Carson Show before retiring for the night. In later years he appreciated the time he was able to spend reading, much of his interests leaning towards history. He had also been a member of the Russell Corner 4-H Club and had always enjoyed watching Packer games.

Mark had an Aunt Connie who did not have children of her own, so she saw to it that each one of her nieces and nephews were sent a birthday card every year. After Connie passed away in 2007, Mark continued in her memory seeing to it that the nieces, nephews and other family members as well still each received their birthday acknowledgement.

Mark suffered a stroke in 2015 but returned to work on the farm, continuing to contribute in the ways he could. Unfortunately after suffering his second stroke in 2023, he was no longer able to care for himself and required the care he received at the Augusta Health and Rehabilitation.

Mark will be dearly missed and deeply missed by his mother Rosalie of Augusta; brother Gary (Jennifer) Johnston of Chippewa Falls; sister Joan Johnston of Augusta; nephew Kenneth Johnston of Augusta; step-niece Lauren (Jake) Eckardt; step-nephew Shaun (Grace) Miller; and step-great-nephew Bennett Eckardt. He is further survived by his aunts and uncles. Jeanette and Larry McSorley of Eau Claire, Reverend Dale and Christine Johnston of Pittsgrove, New Jersey; and Rosalie's siblings, Greg (Joan) Picazo, Ralph, Sam and Sarah Abrago; and their families.

Mark was preceded in death by his father on August 4, 2024.

A private family service will be held at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta. A Celebration of Life for both Mark and his father Dean will be held Saturday June 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Augusta Lion's Hall located at 200 East Lincoln St. (Hwy 12) Augusta.

Mark will be remembered for his quiet strength, ingenuity, and enduring dedication to farm life and family. Rest in peace Spider.

Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com