Ardyth Johnson

Posted: Monday, June 11, 2012 4:00 pm

Ardyth Jean Johnson, 78, died June 7, 2012, at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home in Town of Port Edwards, Wis.
A memorial service will be at noon on Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., with the Rev. Jonathan Jenks officiating.
Friends may call 11 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Wednesday.
Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids is in charge of arrangements.
Ardyth was born May 10, 1934, in Loyal, Wis., daughter of the late Daniel and Dorothy (Stumpner) Anderson. After graduating high school, she moved to Chicago and began working for Western Electric, which blazed the trail for her sister to follow her to Chicago to work. She also worked for Henry I Siegal, the maker of Chic jeans, doing office work. During her time in Chicago, Ardyth met Wayne Killebrew in the restaurant he worked and the two were married in 1957. The couple then moved to Tennessee and Ardyth got her pest control license and worked with Wayne for the family business, Killebrew Pest Control. She worked in the Obion County area. Following Wayne’s death in 1997, Ardyth moved back to Wisconsin Rapids the following year to stay. She was fortunate to remarry on Oct. 19, 2002, in Wisconsin Rapids to Francis Johnson. Their years together were happy ones filled with travel across the country. Sadly, Adryth bid farewell to Francis on Jan. 27, 2008.
Many words can be used to describe Ardyth, but the best are loving, caring and hard working. She had a protective spirit and was a natural helper for all who were in need. While not working, Adryth was a very good cook, canned many vegetables and sewed all of her life, even making many of Cindy’s clothes as she grew up. She often remarked, “Hard work never hurt you.”
Ardyth is survived by her loving children, Randall (Jackie) Gregory of Medford, Wis., and Cindy Killebrew of Nekoosa, Wis.; her siblings, Marlin (Shirley) Anderson of Nekoosa, Eileen (James) Kenney of Medford, Willard (Camille) Anderson of Wausau, Wis., and Everett (Mary) Anderson of Rib Lake, Wis.; her brother-in-law, Lawrence Heller of Babcock, Wis.; and many extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her infant sister, Florence; and her sister, Carol Heller.

Published in The Messenger 6.11.12