Shirley Johnson

Shirley was born in Escanaba on Jan. 31, 1936, the daughter of the late Joseph and Louise Robinette of Hardwood.

Shirley was the youngest of 11 children. Shirley was raised in Hardwood, where the Robinette General Store was a center of the community. She made many lifelong friends that were patrons of the store. Shirley also attended Longfellow School and later Felch High School where she graduated in 1954.

On July 30, 1955, she married her sweetheart Allen Swan Johnson of Foster City. Shirley moved from Hardwood to Foster City, where she and Allen started their family.

Shirley was a child at heart, she loved spending time with her children. She enjoyed being outside and playing games with her children, such as 500, Jarts, badminton, climbing apple trees and picking apples. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and always had an open door for anyone who wanted to visit.

Shirley made her home a gathering place for all her children’s friends, especially during the winter months where there was always a welcome smile and a card game or board game to be played by all who wanted to participate. Much laughter filled the house because Shirley made it that way. Shirley was involved in a women’s softball team with her daughter and played many a game in which the whole community enjoyed watching.

Shirley was involved in and attended Saint Joseph Catholic Church with her family where she participated in many church picnics and serving many meals at various church functions. She had a very generous heart and always had candy available for children. During the Christmas season, she always had a gift for the mailman, bus driver and various others in her community. She was also famous for her Swedish buns, which everyone called “Shirley buns,” which she generously gave out to anyone who wanted a bag. Even when she was a resident of Evergreen Assisted Living, she always had candy for other resident members and the staff.

Shirley will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Joseph (Kristy) Johnson of Vicksburg, Miss., Lana (Mark) Ostlund, Gladstone, Mich., Rod (Michelle) Johnson, Vulcan, Mich., Dan (Darlene) Johnson, Kingsford, Mich., Larry (Rhonda) Johnson, Felch, Mich. She is also survived by her siblings, Alice Charlevoix, Betty Cary, Don Robinette and Harold Robinette. And her grandchildren, Tyler Ostlund, Amanda (Tim) Schultz, Stephanie Johnson, Erica (Chris) Roell, Cory Johnson, Abby Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Jenna Johnson and Katie Hazelwood and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Louise Robinette, and seven siblings and her husband, Allen Johnson.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. (CST) with a Celebration of Life Mass at 11 a.m. and a luncheon to follow at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Foster City. Officiating the service will be the Rev. Darryl Pepin.

Interment will be held at the Foster City Cemetery in the spring.

Condolences to the family of Shirley may be expressed online at www.ortmanfuneralhome.com

Arrangements announced by the Ortman Funeral Home in Norway.