Carly Juve
Marketing Manager

Former Orono Middle School teacher Karen Johnson passed away on Dec. 27, 2010 leaving a hole in the hearts of Orono students, parents, and staff.  Johnson had been in the Orono district teaching English and German classes until she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in early 2010. Shortly after being diagnosed, she moved from Minnesota to North Carolina to be with her family.

Johnson was born in 1951 in Moorehead, MN. She first worked for Cass County Social Services and in 1990 Johnson came to Orono to teach eighth grade English and German. She thoroughly enjoyed her years of teaching and always looked forward to opening minds and challenging each student.

Poetry was one of Johnson’s creative outlets. She was always excited about other cultures, learning their music, poetry and teachings. Even while battling cancer, Johnson continued her quest to learn by working on her last few classes toward her Masters Degree at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.

She had strong support from her parents, Melvin and Lucille Johnson, and daughter Anne (Allen) Kinsey.  Johnson achieved remission in a clinical trial and went through stem cell collection.  After an unexpected and aggressive relapse of her disease, On Dec. 27, 2010 at 11:55 p.m. Johnson had passed away peacefully. The family has decided that they would like to hold her service in Minnesota, where her closest friends, family members and students are.

As her family prepares for the funeral they remember their loss, “Your personality, spirit, energy, passion for life, intelligence, compassion for others and zest will never, ever be forgotten.” stated Johnson’s daughter, Anne. Johnson’s family is looking at a service date for sometime in mid-February, to give the family time to plan and make travel arrangements.  To keep in touch with Johnson’s family, her daughter has set up a blog at http://hopefulandjoyful.blogspot.com.