Anna Constance "Connie" Johnson, 93, of La Porte, passed peacefully, while asleep, into the eternal loving embrace of God on July 1, 2017. She was born December 19, 1923, in Frederick, Maryland, to Frank Glenn and Catherine Marie (Renn) Remsberg.
Connie grew up on a Holstein dairy farm near Middletown, Maryland. Connie adored her first calf, “Buttercup,” a gift from her father when she was 12. Several years later one of her cows, “Prince,” won multiple-year Maryland Grand Champion awards in 4-H competition, and Connie was recognized as a 4-H All-Star. Connie played guard on her Middletown High School basketball team that won the Frederick County championship. After high school, Connie commuted to Hood College in nearby Frederick, majoring in Mathematics, and following graduation, became a math teacher at Frederick High School. She continued to live with her parents, helping out with evening milking chores. In 1945, a new dairy tester visited the farm, and with her mother’s nudging, Connie invited him to a local church youth event. Romance quickly blossomed. Connie and Wayne Allen Johnson wedded in Middletown on February 23, 1946, to launch a loving and fruitful 67-year marriage journey.
Several Indiana locations became home in Connie and Wayne’s early years of marriage, including Goshen, Auburn, Milford, Elwood, Williamsport, Angola, as well as Maryland locations in Middletown and Kensington. In 1961, they settled in La Porte, Indiana, where they remained, except for spending a few winters in Sebring, Florida, during their retirement years. They delighted in the seven children born to them, raising them with firm, encouraging, loving guidance to instill character traits valuing education, community service, and devotion to God. For a number of years, Connie taught math at public and private schools, while spending most of her adulthood raising her children and being a supportive helpmate to her hardworking husband. They enjoyed traveling, both in-country and abroad, including volunteer work for mission projects with Wycliffe.
Connie was deeply devoted to God. Her trusting prayers were heart-felt and authentic. She enjoyed singing in the La Porte County Choralaires and church choirs, as well as playing piano at home in family sing-alongs. Connie had exquisitely beautiful handwriting. She cheerfully encouraged others, always looked for ways to help, and was kind and appreciative. She was truly other-centered and was a blessing to all who knew her. Connie epitomized the woman described in Proverbs 31:26-27, who “watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
Connie is survived by one sister, Nancy (Victor) Lougheed, Baltimore, MD; two sons, Allen (Debora) of Dunmore, WV, and Monte (Gloria) of La Porte, and five daughters, Linda (Larry) Jones of Arlington, TX, Sheryl (Michael) Benjamin of Denver, CO, Marilyn (Carl) Savich of La Porte, Chelo Tenorio, of Stillwater, OK and Janet (Don) Lyon of Hanwell, New Brunswick, Canada; sixteen grandchildren, Jesse, Ethan, Joel and Micah Johnson; Nathan and Caleb Jones, and Charis (Jones) McCoy; Jacob Benjamin and Alissa (Benjamin) Doerner; Holly (Davis) Daly, Peter and Sara Davis; Vanessa Johnson; Jeremy and Adam Lyon; Naya Gavin-Tenorio; and twelve great-grandchildren, Genesis Johnson; Luke, Almuz, and Zion Johnson; Malachi, Lincoln, Kingston, and Thaddeus Daly; Amaya and Kai Johnson; Hazel Jones; and Isaac Johnson. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, one son, Jerry, her parents, one brother, Charles Renn Remsberg, and one sister, Glenna (Remsberg) Deterding.
The family will receive friends at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center on Friday, July 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. The Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, July 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with Dr. Rodney Nielsen officiating. A graveside service will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (P.O. Box 628200 Orlando, FL 32862) or to Sunshine Gospel Ministries, 500 E 61st St, Chicago, IL 60637.