Jeanette Arden Johnson

Age 90, of Fenton, passed away Monday, March 23, 2020, with her family by her side. In accordance with Jeannette's wishes, cremation has taken place. Burial will take place at 9:30 am on Friday, August 13, 2021, at Great Lakes National Cemetery with Pastor Jon Gildner to officiate. Condolences may be shared with the family on Jeanette's tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com. Jeannette was born in the Copper Country, Laurium, Michigan, on March 15, 1930. She was the daughter of a commercial fisherman on Lake Superior, Mr. and Mrs. John and Amanda (Tuppila) Rimpela. Her father was an immigrant from Finland at the age of 16 and spoke only Finnish in her childhood home. Meeting the love of her life, Clarence "Buck" Johnson at Northern Michigan University, she married on December 20, 1953, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Flint. Together, their union would be blessed with two children, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many other family members and friends. Sadly, Buck preceded her in death on September 1, 2004. Jeannette was an English Teacher at Holmes Junior High School for many years. After pursuing a master's degree in library science, she retired as the head Librarian at Flint Northern High School in 1986. After retirement, she and Buck moved from Clio, MI to Higgins Lake in Roscommon County. There they were active in golfing, playing bridge, and enjoying lake life. Jeannette developed a love for being on the water, from fishing with her grandchildren and boating to sitting on the shore looking out at the sunsets. In recent years she also enjoyed playing Bingo at the VFW Hall in Fenton, chair yoga at 88 years old and attending church at Central Church of the Nazarene, Flint, MI. Her greatest joy was to spend time with her family. A passion for traveling across the United States and Internationally with her loved ones, Jeannette would educate them along the way about the different customs and practices. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt that will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. Left to cherish her memory are two children: Dave and wife, Pat Johnson, and Dr. Ann and husband, Andrew Walker; 6 grandchildren: Jenifer and husband, John Koch, Chad and wife, Sami Johnson, Dr. Christopher and wife, Linda Walker, Matthew Walker, Dr. Timothy, and fiancée, Dr. Morganne Bayliss, and "soon to be" Dr. Zachary Walker; 7 great-grandchildren: Sammuel, Noah, Allison, Cameron, Caleb, Eli, and Joel; sister-in-law, Ellen Marie MacKinnon; special friends: Millie and Dave Angus; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence "Buck" Johnson, sisters; Anita Schrandt, Ruth Vandeburg and Bernard, Clifford and Roy Rimpela; sister-in-law, Karen Bloom. Jeannette's family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Heartland Hospice, and to Dr. Naik as well as his entire staff for the wonderful care they provided.