Laura Ann Johnson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Laura Ann Willan Johnson, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, physical therapist, volunteer, and hostess to many was born November 18, 1936 in Medicine Lodge, KS. Her parents were John Johnson Willan and Elsie Coppock Willan. Laura called Medicine Lodge her home for her 83 years of life. Her childhood days were spent in Barber County on a farm. She had freedom to ride her pony, help on the farm, take afternoon tea to the hired help, work in the family garden and became an excellent seamstress and cook. She kept her English heritage alive by making plum pudding and mincemeat tarts at Christmas. Laura was involved in 4-H, school extracurricular activities, Rainbow Girls and church activities. She played piano, clarinet and violin. Several summers in her teenage years were spent in Alberta, Canada on her Dads farm. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Medicine Lodge. She graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in 1954. She set her sights on a career in physical therapy, a medical specialty in its infancy at the time. In 1958 she graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors degree. It was a source of pride for her that she held a physical therapy license for 50+ years and was able to help many people. On July 28, 1957, she married John Elmer Johnson. She was a busy mother of 4 children, active in church activities, 4-H club, attended all events her kids were involved in, played in a local Bridge club and was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Giving her children opportunities to succeed in their endeavors was paramount to her. Notably, she drove a horse trailer with four horses and four kids in a crew cab pickup all over the United States. Her kids were all successful equestrians in Kansas and nationally. She opened her home to foreign exchange students and others from around the world. As a result, she has friends in Europe, Australia and South Africa. She was an amazing seamstress. Later in life she turned her sewing skills into making quilts. She loved to attend her grandkids activities and be active in their lives. University of Kansas basketball games were always on her calendar and she was a lifelong avid fan. She loved to travel for pleasure and for medical volunteer work. She visited Ukraine, Ecuador, South Korea, Sweden, Austria, Italy, South Africa, Canada, most of the 50 states. She loved to ride her bicycle locally and went on long rides across Kansas and Iowa. She is pre deceased by her parents, her husband, her sister and brother-in-law, two nephews, a foster daughter (Bonnie Sanders), and our special family friend, Ron Burbridge. Her reunion with each one in eternity is an event she has looked forward to. She is survived by her four children, Lettitia (John) Bernard, LeeAnn (Todd) Gienke, Lenise (Michael) Mellott, and J.C (Jamie) Johnson, twelve grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and their families. A graveside service will be held in Medicine Lodge on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 1p.m, at Highland Cemetery. A public Life Celebration will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the United Methodist Church in Medicine Lodge or the Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital Physical Therapy Department in care of Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104. Online condolences may be made at www.larrisonmortuary.com.

Laura Ann Johnson

November 18, 1936 - May 11, 2020