Rosemary Ann Johnson

Rosemary Ann Goetz Johnson, 82 of Prior Lake, Minnesota passed away March 4, 2025, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Her family was with her for the end of her journey and loved her into heaven. She spent nine years at Emeraldcrest in Burnsville, and the family is grateful for the excellent care she received there.

Rosemary was the only child of Gordon and Bernice (Burg) Goetz. She was born in Minneapolis June 13, 1942, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1960. She had many lifelong friends from Roosevelt. She married her school sweetheart, Robert Victor Johnson, also of Minneapolis following his time in the US Coast Guard on September 28, 1963. She worked for a time at Northwest Airlines but once they started a family, she chose to become a homemaker. Rosemary and Bob had three children, Kristi, Bob Jr, and Kurt while living in Bloomington. The family moved to Lakeville in 1973 where they lived until 2002. Once the children were teenagers, Rosemary became a college student, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education from Mankato State in the early 1980s. She entered the workforce full-time working as a teacher, interior designer, and finally with the Bloomington Department of Housing and Urban Development, retiring in the early 2000s. Rosemary studied the bible and grew her faith, attending Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for many years until she entered memory care. Rosemary and Bob enjoyed their retirement years, spending much of it at their cabin on Roy Lake in Nisswa. Rosemary most enjoyed time with friends and family (especially her six grandchildren) at the lake. We remember fondly when one of the kids wanted to go swimming, grandma was the first one in her swimsuit. She enjoyed airplane and car travel during retirement and could always be found at Bob’s side. Bob battled lung cancer for several years and Rosemary began to struggle with memory issues and then the paranoia and anger that Alzheimer’s sometimes brings. They were able to care for each other through it all. Bob died in 2016, and Rosemary entered memory care. She would want to be remembered as a faithful Christian, a devoted wife, a mother who did her absolute best for her children, a fun and loving grandma, and yes, a woman with an occasional stubborn streak and feistiness. The staff at Emeraldcrest, and especially Chaplain Arlen, knew her well but mostly will tell you she always had a smile at the ready.

Rosemary is survived by her children Kristi (Roger Fors) Chapman of West Des Moines, Iowa, Bob (Lyneia) Johnson of Jordan, Minnesota, and Kurt (Tami) Johnson of Jordan, Minnesota, grandchildren Lexi (Todd) Schwarze, Jon (Briana Dudek) Chapman, Jake Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Luke Chapman, and Daemyen Johnson, great-grandchildren (Will and Avery Schwarze), her Uncle Frank (Marilyn) Burg of San Antonio, Texas, brother-in-law Richard (Corrine) Johnson of Apple Valley, Minnesota, three nieces, and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Bernice Goetz, and the love of her life, her husband of 52 years, Bob.

A private burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Minneapolis with a gathering for friends and family to follow.

Memorials preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor. This disease robbed her of years of living a purposeful life, much of her dignity, her memories, words, and thoughts. We are forever grateful to our father for the care he provided for our mom both in life and in death. Family and friends remember Rosemary, mom, grandma as her whole self and will hold those memories dear until we meet again.