Gladys Johnson

Gladys Ethel (Ellert) Johnson,age 89, formerly of Knapp, WI,passed away January 8, 2009. She spent two years at the Menomonie Health Care Center while battling complications from a massive stroke. Gladys Ethel Ellert was born December 29, 1919 in Dalton, Minnesota, the daughter of Herman and Alma Ellert. She married Orville Johnson in 1937. They lived in northern Minnesota until 1949 when they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Gladys was employed for over ten years in factory work for Vomelas Industries in St. Paul. They resided in St. Paul until retirement when they moved to the Knapp, WI area in 1979. Gladys loved the outdoors. She took great pride in her gardening skills and spent her retirement years caring for her beautiful lawn and garden. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting, making numerous quilts and other crafts. Her independent and caring spirit will be forever remembered by those who knew her. Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Alma Ellert; husband Orville; brothers, Ardys, Verlyn, Roger; sisters, Florence Strom, Lela Gonzoski. She is survived by her children, William (Marchelle) Johnson of St. Paul, Ethel “Mickey” (LaMoine) Zielieke of Knapp, WI; grandchildren, Deanna Urmanu of St. Paul, Desiree (Chad) Phillips of Knapp, WI, Kalli (John) Bestman of Watertown, MN; brothers, Harvey Ellert of St. Paul, Roger Ellert of South Dakota; sister Dorothy Martin of Lakeville, MN. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of the Dunn County Health Care Center for their compassion, kindness and outstanding care provided to Gladys during the past two years.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 12:00-3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 2009 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. A Time of Sharing will begin at 3:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Interment at Wyoming United Methodist Cemetery, Wyoming, Minnesota.