Alli M. Johnson

Alli M. Johnson, 85, longtime resident of Brule, WI, died surrounded by her family Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. She was born in Teuva Finland, May 2, 1935, the daughter of John and Impi (Myllykangas) Yrjanainen.

Alli arrived in America with her family in 1947. She married her sweetheart, Wesley in 1954, and lived a full life on the family farm with gardening, canning, and following in her mother’s footsteps with sewing, needle work, and preparing classic Finnish foods.

Alli was a longtime active member of Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu, WI. She was a member of the Tuesday Club in Oulu; the Dominoes Group in Brule; the Popple Benders Snowmobile Club, and the weekly Breakfast Club.

She was fond of the Kentucky Derby, was a car racing fan, an avid reader and enjoyed her years working on the Brule River. Above all, Alli was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved spending time with her family and friends and found great joy and pride in attending all the life events of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.

She is survived by her son, Mark (Pam) Johnson, Brule, WI; daughters, Kimberly (Robert) Clark, Brule, WI, Tammy (Thomas) Ruska, Stacy, MN, and Lisa Zunker, Brule, WI; grandchildren, Matthew (Samantha) Johnson, Cloquet, MN, Kyle (Jessica Schoen) Johnson, Eau Claire, WI, Alexander and Nicholas Yagoda, and Vanessa (Cody) Zack, all of Duluth, MN, Wesley and Samantha Clark, both of Brule, WI, and Luke and Noah Ruska, of Stacy, MN; great-grandchildren, Rosalind, Augustus, Elizabeth and Violet Zack; son-in-law, Scott Yagoda; sister, Eva (Bill) Wiitala, Superior, WI; brothers, Waino (Nona) Yrjanainen, Brule, WI, and Leo (Lois) Yrjanainen, Lake Nebagamon, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, F. Wesley Johnson; parents; daughter, Linda Yagoda; brother, Elmer Yrjanainen; and son-in-law, Jason Zunker.

A Time of Remembrance of Alli’s Strong Sisu Life will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM, Saturday, October 31, 2020 at the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5 ^th Street, Superior, with a moment of prayer to be held at 12:45 PM offered by Pastor Scott Stai of Hope Lutheran Church.

A Celebration of Alli’s Life will be held on her birthday, May 2, 2021 at Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu, WI, and inurnment will take place at Everrest Cemetery in Waino. Those service times will be announced in the Spring of 2021.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com.