Patricia Meyer Johnson

September 27, 1939 - January 08, 2012

A Memorial Service in celebration of Pat Johnson's life will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:00 Noon at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue.  Pat will be privately laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Leonard. 

Since Pat was an avid Green Bay Packer fan, she would want everyone home to cheer on and support her team in the playoffs.  Her family will greet relatives and friends on Sunday, January 15^th from 12:00 Noon until 3:00 p.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to the Kenosha Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 1414, Kenosha, WI  53141 or the Kenosha Public Museum Foundation, 5500 1^st Ave., Kenosha, WI  53140 would be appreciated.

Patricia Meyer Johnson passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on January 8, 2012. She fought a gallant fight against cancer for many years.

Pat was born to Walter and Florence Meyer and was raised in Emma, MO. She was educated at the University of Missouri and lived and worked in Kansas City where she made life-long friends.

In 1963 she moved to Kenosha to teach at Lincoln Junior High, where she met the love of her life, Leonard R. Johnson in 1965. They were married in 1966.  Sadly, Leonard preceded her in death on October 21, 2006.

Pat taught English at Lincoln from 1963 to 1969 until she started her family.  She resumed her professional life in 1981 as the director of Armitage Academy, a private K-8 school which she led for 22 years.  During this time she also earned her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University.

Pat had an enthusiasm for living, learning and celebrating. Most of all she was genuinely interested in people and was a mentor to many. This was her greatest living legacy.

She served the Kenosha community on many boards and organizations, including the Kenosha Public Library system as a member of the library board, the Kenosha Public Library Foundation Board of Directors, and the Kenosha County Library System Board of Trustees.

She also served on the Gateway Technical College Board, the Carthage College Advisory Committee for the Division of Education, the Friends of the Kenosha Public Museum and co-founded the Kenosha County Restorative Justice program.

She participated and served in leadership positions in the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and PEO. She also worked for the Kenosha Achievement Center.  In recent years she's participated in Kiwanis and Kenosha County Youth as Resources. And was a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister organization.

In 2010, Pat was honored with the Susan B. Anthony Award. While humbled by the award, it was a true testament to her character and dedication and love for Kenosha. In recent years she was also inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Educator's Hall of Fame.

She also enjoyed international travel. Other passions included art appreciation, gourmet cooking, baking, canning and gardening. Her tomatoes fed many friends. She was known for her photography and has shown much of her work over the years. She was an avid reader and participated in a beloved book club for over 20 years.

She is survived by her two children, Rolf Johnson of Kenosha and Ingrid Johnson Redding (Jeff) of Napa, CA; three sisters Marlene Roscher, Melba Merrick and Karen Joseph all in the Kansas City, MO area; her brother, Rodney Meyer of Warsau, MO; her sister-in-law, Ila Hansen (Donald) of Oak Creek; and many nieces and nephews.