Carolyn Marie Johnson

MADISON, WI 

Carolyn died peacefully on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 after making sure that her family was ready to bear the inevitable heartbreak that would follow her passing. Cary was born on February 23, 1926 in Milwaukee to her loving Danish-American parents Kai and Anna Studt.  According to her plethora of stories she had an idyllic youth spending summers with her family at the cottage on Pewaukee Lake or visiting Uncle Jim's farm. A Job's Daughter (Bethel #6) and Bay View High School graduate (class of '44). She moved to Madison where she graduated from UW-Madison in 1950 with a B.S. in Education and in 52 married Quentin Kresge Johnson whom she had met during college. She and Quentin were active Hoofers and Carolyn was proud to have been a ""Badger Beauty"" loosing out to none other than Gena Rowlands. Her father suffered a stroke in 1950 and to support her family in this time of crisis she began her career of 40+ years teaching English. South Milwaukee High School ('50-52), Sharp Corner Public School, Skokie, IL ('52-55), Central High School, Madison, WI ('55-'56) when she was forced to quit (times being what they were) because she was obviously pregnant with her first and only surviving child Kaianna. Almost immediately she resumed teaching as a ""substitute"" and in '65 she resumed teaching full-time at Madison West, most of those years teaching the squirrely 9th graders how to understand and appreciate ""To Kill a Mockingbird"" and ""Romeo and Juliet"" as well as chaperoning the German student's summer trips to Freiberg, Germany. She retired in '91 and her retirement gave her the time and opportunity to fulfill some of her dreams of traveling throughout the USA (49 states) and Europe, studying her Danish genealogy and visiting her grandchildren. However nothing gave her more enjoyment than assisting her dear friend Jean Sloan with her antique business. Carolyn had a gift for being able to talk to anyone, anywhere about anything and was a passionate student as well as teacher. She is survived by her husband, Quentin of Madison; her daughter, Kaianna Obee of Madison; two amazing grandchildren, Jessica Obee of Milwaukee and Gabriel Obee of Madison. Also surviving Carolyn are sister-in-Law Marie Johnson of Acworth, GA, nieces Kathy (Jim) Voerg, Sue (Rusty) Garrison, Barbara Johnson, Debbie (Duane) McGlamery and nephew Doug (JoAnn) Johnson. Carolyn was predeceased by her parents; her brother Allen James Studt; her in-laws Violet and Irving B. Johnson and her brother-in-law Irving B. Johnson, Jr. In keeping with her love of exploration and adventure Carolyn's ashes will be scattered on the winds around the world. This good, stubborn, gracious and generous wife, mother, grandmother, and friend will be missed beyond measure. Memorials in her name would be preferred to: Capital Candlelighters TM ""...because kids can't fight cancer alone! "" 517 N. Segoe Rd., #100, PO Box #258133, Madison, WI 53725

                                                         Bring All Your

                                                         Flowers Today

I would rather have one little rose

From the garden of a friend

Than to have the choicest flowers

When my stay on earth must end.

I would rather have one pleasant word

In kindness said to me

Than flattery when my heart is still

And life has ceased to be.

Bring me all your flowers today

Whether pink or white or red

I'd rather have one blossom now

Than a truckload when I'm dead.

-Author unknown

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

6021 University Avenue   Madison

(608) 238-8406

www.cressfuneralservice.com