Mabel R. Johnson, 96, of Merrill, died Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, under the care of her family and the nursing home staff.
Mabel was born Nov. 15, 1917, in the Town of Birch, Lincoln County, daughter of the late George and Florence (Winchester) Benson. She married Otto Waldburger on July 12, 1936, and he preceded her in death in 1971. She then married Adolph Johnson in 1973, and he also preceded her in death.
Mabel had been a homemaker. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, and was also a member the church’s Ladies Aid and Dorcas Society. Mabel enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading and singing. Mabel was a Red Cross Volunteer years ago.
Survivors include five daughters, Gayle (David) Oberg, Merrill, Mary Hilgendorf, Marathon, Karen (Stanley) Torkelson, Tomahawk, Linda (David) Brown, Merrill, and Barbara (Donald) Mikeal-McDowell, Manitowoc; one son, Allan (Kate) Waldburger, Merrill; 25 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Edith (Rev. Jack) Shook, Irma. Besides her parents and husbands, Mabel was preceded in death by one daughter, Janice Stockowitz; three son-in-laws, Bill Stockowitz, Robert Hilgendorf and Gary Mikeal; one great-grandson, Cody Waldburger; three sisters, Margaret Wilson, Nellie Collins and Ethel Jeske-Griffin; and seven brothers, John, George, Harold, Norman, Clarence, David and Leonard Benson.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 24, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Joel Hoelter will officiate. Burial will follow in Chat Cemetery, Town of Birch. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Pine Crest Nursing Home for the wonderful care given to their mother and grandmother.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.