Alice Gwendolyn Johnson Wissel

Alice Gwendolyn Johnson Wissel of Phoenix, Arizona died at home Jan. 8, 2016. She was born December 30, 1951, to Marx Lewellyn and Jennie Evadean Johnson in Coos Bay, Oregon. Gwen’s family would move down the coast into California, as her dad worked in saw mills, until lastly the family moved to Montrose, Colorado. 

Throughout her life, Gwen – as she is affectionately known- found joy in the connections she made with others. She grew up in a big family and had a way of including others that resulted in an ever expanding circle of loved ones. She was an all-in kind of gal. Had it not been for her then boyfriend, Alan Wissel, she would’ve left high school before commencement. Somehow he talked her into waiting, and they eloped the same day she graduated high school in 1971.

Gwen would go on to begin a career in education, motherhood and find herself in the Valley of the Sun with her small children and husband. It is in Phoenix that she decided she wanted to make a bigger impact. The year her daughter graduated high school and started college, is when Gwen also started her studies. She graduated with her bachelor of science from Arizona State University and obtained her master’s from Northern Arizona University.

Before retiring as a school psychologist, Gwen worked as a waitress, telephone pole climber, a Volunteer EMT, cleaned houses, participated in PTA, was a Soccer mom and drove a school bus. She was both parent chaperone and the bus driver for all her kids’ field trips.

Gwen will be remembered for many reasons: she was the laughter you hear across the room; she was the one smiling in all the photos; she was the fun if it wasn’t already present.; but likely the strongest memories of more recent joyful times are of her with her grandchildren. She was the best of grandmothers, out doing herself as a mom.

Alice Gwendolyn Wissel is survived by her husband, Alan Eugene Wissel; her children, Arrian Wissel, Arrol Alan Wissel, Erik Alden Wissel and Rolan Butch Wissel all of Phoenix,; her siblings, Lewis Marx Johnson, Timothy Bernard Johnson, Josef Leland Johnson, Charles Ray Johnson, Deborah Jane Alderman, and Margaret Nadine Partridge; and her grandchildren, Reagan Kennis Wissel, Joaquin Elijah Llywelyn Wissel-Rivera. She was preceded in death by her son, Avery Alan Wissel, sister Patty Mardean Ward; and parents, Marx Lewellyn Johnson and Jennie Evadean Timothy Johnson Woodward.

A celebratory viewing will take place Sunday, January 17, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 E. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear, Arizona beginning 11am and followed by 1pm services. Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Chapel.

Funeral Services in Colorado will be Saturday, Jan. 23rd, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Montrose Colorado. Flowers sent to the Colorado services will be included in the graveside services. Burial will be at Olathe Cemetery, in Colorado.

The family suggests donations be made to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation