Gloria J. Johnson

Gloria Johnson was born on August 10th, 1932, in Wakefield, Michigan. In her early life, she attended school in Ramsay, Michigan, graduating from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer, Michigan in 1950. Gloria studied at Gogebic Jr College, Ironwood, Michigan and worked at Gogebic Auto/Northwestern Motor Bus.

Gloria left the U.P. in 1961 and began a 23 year career with Sears Roebuck & CO. in Dubuque, IA. She moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1972, continuing her career with Sears until retiring (for the first time) in 1984. Gloria then worked for Johnson Controls in Milwaukee, WI until her second retirement in 1995. Gloria then moved to Wausau, WI to be closer to family, continuing to work in various retail stores, including several additional opportunities at Sears in Wausau.

Gloria spent time volunteering in the Wausau area. She was Special Projects Coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Marathon County, and a volunteer gift shop associate at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Gloria used her knitting talents to make prayer shawls for Aspirus Hospital Hospice, and Cancer Center. She also assisted the Marathon County Chapter of the American Red Cross after 9/11.

Gloria could be found travelling, usually with her sister, Jane, attending conferences for Altrusa, and Women’s General Auxiliary meetings at Shriners Hospital for Children in the Twin Cities. Gloria’s travels took her to Canada, Hawaii, and Las Vegas.

Gloria’s enjoyed knitting, reading, and watching Wisconsin sports teams, particularly the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Michigan State Spartans. And what would be a family holiday without a “Gloria cake”, confetti cake, themed for the holiday.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur "Ted" and Agnes (Gustafson) Johnson; and sister and brother-in-law, Jane Ann and Frank Hanousek.

She is survived by her nephew, Frank L. (Kelly) Hanousek Jr.; great nephews and nieces, Matthew Hanousek, Timothy (Ceely) Hanousek, Caitlin (Steve) Gustafson, Mitchell (Jasmine Madden) Hanousek, and Lindsey Antolik.

In lieu of flowers, Gloria wished memorial gifts would be designated to the Frank Hanousek Memorial Scholarship Endowment, NTC Foundation, 1000 Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 5440, or the Wisconsin Valley Auxiliary, P.O. Box 302 Wausau WI 54402-0302.

Funeral service will be held at Brainard Funeral Home 522 Adams St, Wausau WI 54403 on Friday, September 12th. Visitation begins at 9:30 AM with service at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer, MI. 

In honor of Gloria, please wear Wisconsin sports teams, or Michigan State Spartan attire.