Johnson, Sandra

Sandra Johnson, age 87,  of Dodgeville, WI, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 surrounded by her children, at the Upland Hills Nursing and Rehab Center.  Sandra was born on March 25, 1937, the daughter of Roy and Hannah (Winn) Stauffacher. She married David R. Johnson on June 11, 1955, and together they have five children.

Early on in her life, Sandra displayed musical giftedness, singing, playing the piano and eventually organ, as well as clarinet and French horn in her high school band.  Sandra began playing for her church as a high schooler and continued playing piano for the majority of her life at the churches she and David attended together.

Raised on a dairy farm in the Darlington area, she was involved with 4-H and showed animals at the county and state fairs, winning multiple awards.  As the mother of five, she encouraged her children's involvement in 4-H and animal showing as well.

Sandra and David began their farming career renting a farm at Red Rock, during which time their two sons, Don and Bill were born.  The opportunity to expand their farming operation came through an offer to rent a farm just outside of Darlington.  Their first two daughters, Nancy and Jean were born while there.  Their final rental was located in the Belmont area.  Their third daughter, Kate was born during that period.  

The opportunity to purchase a farm in the Dodgeville area came about, resulting in their final move and the beginning of a farming adventure that grew to two farms and an entrepreneurial dream with the development of three seasonal businesses, Doby Stables, Governor Dodge Gift Shop and the Museum of Minerals and Crystals.  Those businesses involved the entire family and more than sixty employees over the years and continued operating for several decades.

Sandra excelled as a businesswoman through building a strong repeat customer base, serving a burgeoning tourist clientel, employing a number of local individuals throughout her most profitable years in business and offering top-notch customer service that went above and beyond in meeting customer's needs. Being of help and caring about the needs of others was what she lived by not just in business, but in life.

Though Sandra succeeded in whatever she set her hand to, her greatest joy in life came through loving and serving her Lord. That love and service was most often expressed through her music and doing life with her high school sweetheart for more than seventy years, as well as caring for family, friends and neighbors in need and being Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma to her five children, 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and one great grandchild on the way.

Sandra is survived by her husband, David; her brother Richard (Gwen) Stauffacher; her sister-in-law, Sue Johnson; her children, Bill Johnson, Nancy (Jim) Metcalf, Jean Johnson and Kathy (Erik) Miller; her grandchildren, Aaron (Michelle), Brent, Cole, Jennie Mae, Sarah, Joshua, Marcus (Karen), Rachel (Aaron), Candice (Lee), Andrew (Nichelle), Rebecca (Jeron), Tony (Alyssa) and Grant (Danielle); 21 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Hannah Stauffacher, her in-laws, Dwight and Helen Johnson; her son, Don Johnson; a grandson, Zachery Cross; her sister, Barbara (Marvin) Strause; sister-in-law, Ruth (Chester) Kamm and two brothers-in-law, Dwaine (Bessie) Johnson and Richard Johnson.

A celebration of life will be held at the Grace Bible Cowboy Country Church, 1200 Betty Lane in Mineral Point on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastors Roger Johnson and Bruce Bennett officiating.  A visitation will also be held at the church on Thursday, September 12, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and also on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Private burial will conclude at the Eastside Cemetery in Dodgeville.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Bloomfield Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Upland Hills Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their tender and compassionate care of Sandra.

The Houck Funeral Home in Dodgeville is assisting the family.   

www.houckfuneralhomes.com

608-935-3628