Kathy Johnson, 73, 'Lived A Full Life And Enjoyed Many Things'

(The following obituary was submitted to Joliet Patch.)

JOLIET — Kathleen Helen Johnson (nee Baumann), 73, of Joliet, IL, passed away peacefully in her home on February 14, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband Thomas Johnson of Joliet; her loving sons, Jeffrey (Ursula) Johnson of Washington, DC, and Michael (Jacqueline) Johnson of Florence, AL; her adoring grandchildren, Fiona, Bowie, Joliette, and Nolan; her beloved mother, Ramona Baumann, of Wauwatosa, WI; her dear siblings, David (Kathleen) Baumann, Bruce (Christine) Baumann, Linda Bridgeforth, Keith (Sharon) Baumann, John Baumann, and Julie (Gareth) Baumann; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Basil Baumann, and her sister, Robyn Frantz.

Kathy was born on May 12, 1951, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Basil and Ramona, and was raised in Milwaukee, WI. Following her graduation from high school and several years working as a secretary, she enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and was trained as a medic with a specialty in physical therapy. She was part of the final training class of the Women’s Army Corps before its units were integrated with the corresponding male units in the U.S. Army. Kathy was honorably discharged in 1978.

One fateful night in November 1974, Kathy and a friend attended a social event at the enlisted club at Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago, IL, where she met a handsome young sailor named Tom, who would turn out to be the love of her life. Kathy and Tom were married in March 1975 and lived in Bainbridge, MD; Schenectady, NY; Groton, CT; Newport News, VA; and Great Lakes, IL before settling in the Joliet area, where they raised their two sons and built a wonderful life together.

Kathy worked at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet before serving eighteen years as the operations manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties, where she was able to fulfill her lifelong commitment to community service. In addition to her work for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kathy was also an active volunteer with many different philanthropic and service organizations in the Joliet area. Kathy was a woman of faith, a devoted Catholic, and a faithful parishioner at St. Jude Catholic Church in Joliet.

Kathy lived a full life and enjoyed many things: music, singing, dancing, traveling, spending time with Tom at their cabin on Lake Kabetogama, writing and sending letters and cards, reminiscing and telling unbelievable—but true!—“Kathy stories,” enjoying meals at her favorite local restaurants, proudly displaying the many treasures her grandchildren made for her, watching movies with her family (especially ones with happy endings), cheering on her Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks (win or lose; mostly lose lately), catching up with old friends, and watching her special fur baby, Angel, perform amazing tricks at Tom’s command. But nothing was more important to Kathy than her family. She was a devoted wife, amazing mother, incomparable nana, and loving daughter, sister, aunt, and cousin. She never missed an opportunity to provide support, encouragement, forgiveness, sympathy, a kind word, a smile, a laugh, or a hug. She poured herself into the lives of her sons and her beloved grandchildren. Her family was the center of her universe, and there’s no question that she brightened the lives of everyone she touched.

Kathy’s family will have a private service in Milwaukee and will host a celebration of life in Joliet at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care (https://lightways.org/donate/) or the Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/illinois).