Nancy Ann "Cole" Johnson

Born March 2, 1951 - Died September 2, 2025

Between those two dates, she lived a life less ordinary. Beautiful inside and out, she touched the lives of many people who will not soon forget her. I should not be surprised then by the number of people who have come up to me to tell me how much they appreciated her ever present smile, her bright blue eyes, her inclusiveness and always being the first to lend a hand.

To her family, she was not only Nancy but honey, mom, Grammy, Aunt Nancy, and sister.

She was born to Al and Kathryn "Kay" Cole in Waukesha WI. She graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1969 and attended Wisconsin State University Oshkosh where she met the love of her life. Ever since, the two have been an unstoppable pair that lived life to the fullest.

She held many jobs. She was a meat packer at Hillshire Farms (for about a week), bank teller, rate analyst for an insurance underwriter, sales associate, wall paperer, caterer, executive assistant at a steel construction firm, interior decorator but the job she enjoyed the most was a tour representative in Ketchikan, Alaska. She would meet the cruise ships as they docked and collected the people for their tour. She would answer their questions and give them an outline of what they would see and do on the excursion. She did that for three seasons while standing in the rain, wind and even some sun. She loved the people she encountered and there was never a question she thought was too dumb or would not answer. However, the job she was most proud of was a stay-at-home mom. Our daughters, now all grown up, have told her how much they appreciated her being home when they arrived from school and how she was always ready to take them to or pick them up from activities. She was the glue that held our family together and for that I am grateful.

She has traveled the U.S. by car, motor home, private propeller airplane and commercial jet from Maine to Florida to Hawaii and Alaska. She has viewed Paris from the Eiffel Tower, walked the gardens of Versailles, toured the castles of Germany, had a beer in a London pub, sailed the turquoise water of the Caribbean, observed African wildlife from an open-sided 4WD safari, and travelled through the Panama Canal.

Nancy is survived by her husband Dan, daughters Jana Johnson and Stacie (Aaron) Henry, grandchildren Karynn, Thomas and Colin, sister Diane (Dan) Pugh, nieces and nephews and her cat Henry. We will all miss her smile, her laugh, her bright blue loving eyes, her hugs and kisses and the joy and laughter that always accompanied her. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Justen Funeral Home. For information, please call the Funeral Home at 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends and loved ones may share memories of Nancy on her tribute wall.