Susan Johnson

Susan Ann Johnson (Zwack) of Jenkins, MN, 68 years old, beloved mother of Heidi, Holly, Hannah and Hattie, passed away from Alzheimer’s disease on January 28, 2025. She returned to the stars peacefully, surrounded by her four girls and grandkids.

Sue spent the first part of her childhood growing up in Hopkins, MN, before moving to the Lakes Area and graduating from Pequot Lakes High School in 1975. In her 20’s, Sue met and married Charles P. Johnson and started their family; eventually settling into “The Blue House” in Jenkins, MN, where their four daughters were raised. In 2007, Sue accomplished her lifelong dream of opening her own antique store, Annie’s Attic, in Jenkins, MN.

Sue was an avid gardener, with vibrant flower beds in the yard and a large vegetable garden and especially loved all her lilacs that would bloom in the spring. Homegrown canned dill pickles were her specialty, because all her girls and grandkids would eat a jar of pickles in one sitting. Sue had an unrelenting love of ketchup and sweet treats - including her “Monster Cookies”– a recipe and tradition she passed on to her kids and grandkids. She loved opening the windows on summer days and blasting music through the house, filling the rooms with her favorite classic rock such as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, and Fleetwood Mac. There were frequent dress-up parties in the living room with her kids dancing to Madonna, courtesy of a fully stocked costume closet, many of which were handmade.  

Sue’s home was always a safe space for friends and family. She was a true nurturer and would often have tater tot hotdish or homemade chicken noodle soup at the ready for all the neighborhood kids or friends her girls would bring home off the school bus. Sue especially loved time with her grandkids and would wait for them to get off the bus at her house so they could share in some “Ortmeal”, play Blokus, or explore the yard. She was always there for concerts, dance recitals, sports, and plays; and was a constant champion for her children and grandchildren’s love of reading, travel, camping and crafts. Sue was known for being goofy, silly, sweet, and ready for an adventure. You’d frequently find her singing a song or making up a little jingle. She loved to be near the lake or walking the beach, often visiting Duluth, MN, and the North Shore to “pick rocks”. She enjoyed visiting Florida and Texas, looking for shells and watching the big waves. Sue also had an eye for tracking down a good deal and loved to go garage-saling and antiquing – a talent she used in opening Annie’s Attic. She was very crafty, from decorating shoes and making handmade barrettes for her girls, to painting wood crafts and coloring in her later years. Sue was always a caregiver, helping her parents and siblings, and above all raising her girls with unconditional love. 

Sue is survived by her daughters, Heidi Johnson, Holly Rose, Hannah Johnson, and Hattie (Nathan) Davis; grandchildren, Athena Swann and Gravity Adkins; siblings, Neil (Bonnie) Zwack, Gerald (Lou Ann) Zwack, Jean (Mike) Kline, Donna Myers, Joseph (Alexa) Zwack, and David Zwack. 

Memorials to the family are greatly appreciated and will go towards Susie’s celebration of life that will be held in May of 2025. Donations can be given to the funeral home to be passed along to the family or through Venmo @Sue_Zwack or by clicking here.