Todd M. Johnson

Todd Michael Johnson, age 59, Town of Harrison, Wisconsin, was called to be with his Savior on October 21, 2024, after being diagnosed in April with glioblastoma. He was born January 25, 1965, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to the late Roger and Carol (Kohlmetz) Johnson. 

Todd graduated from Fox Valley Lutheran High School in 1983 and from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1987. It was at FVL that Todd met his wife and life partner, Sara, and it was through God's grace that He kept them together until they were finally married on December 28, 1991, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Kimberly, Wisconsin. They enjoyed 32 years of marriage filled with abundant blessings. Sara's strong faith in God and devotion to her husband were on full display in how she cared for him throughout the period of his illness, and it helped make the time joyful for Todd and the entire family. 

After earning his degree in Marketing, Todd began a successful career at IBM where he spent his first 6 years. In 1993, Todd and a couple of coworkers from IBM partnered with Schenck & Associates to form Strategies & Solutions, an IBM Business Partner company. Blessed with loyal and skilled employees, the company grew and thrived, and Todd was a key part of the leadership team helping drive its success. Strategies was acquired by Berbee and then CDW, and Todd remained with those organizations in various management roles until his illness forced him to step away earlier this year.

Todd was involved in his children’s hobbies and activities. He loved the things they loved and supported whatever they did. Whether it was promoting the sale of Brenna's incredible pottery items, spending countless hours at the ballpark watching games and throwing BP to Drew, or time on the court hitting tennis balls with Quinn and cheering him on through his matches, he supported them in any way he could.

The Johnson family was blessed to have a cottage on Tuttle Lake in Neshkoro from the time Todd was 6 months old. They loved spending summer weekends there, entertaining family and friends and creating lifetime memories. After playing softball in his younger years, Todd also enjoyed playing tennis and golf and was a passionate fan of the Brewers, Packers and Badgers.

More than anything else, Todd valued his relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was his faith and hope in God's promise of eternal life in heaven that sustained Sara and him and brought the entire family close together throughout his illness. Todd was a long-time active member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Appleton, serving in various leadership roles throughout the years. Those roles allowed him to develop close relationships with the pastors and other members of Bethany, and their prayers and support and spiritual encouragement as he battled this illness were very much appreciated.

Todd is survived by his wife Sara; daughter Brenna (Denver), sons Drew and fianceé Kassi Mazza (Appleton) and Quinn (San Antonio);  as well as his brother Tim (Dina) Johnson and sister Alissa (Andy) Hutton, both of Texas; step mother Marilyn Johnson (Kansas), nephews Derek and Griffin Johnson and Graham Hutton, and nieces Emily Johnson and Ramsey Hutton, all of Texas. Todd was also very close to, and is further survived by, his in-laws: Sara's parents James and Jean Harke of Kimberly; brother Brian (Jen) Harke and their children Nolan and Sam. Sara’s sister Sheree (Don) Garvey of Appleton and their children Dennis and Grace Garvey. 

Special thanks for the hospice care and friendship provided by Lexi and Hailey and the Theda Care at Home team, as well as all the support, gifts, cards, and prayers we received from our Bethany family, friends, and the North Shore neighbors. 

A visitation for friends and family will be held on Thursday evening November 7th from 3:00 PM until 7 :00 PM at Wichmann Tri-County Chapel, 1592 South Oneida Street in Fox Crossing. 

The Christian funeral service for Todd will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 8th at BETHANY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 530 W. Parkway Blvd., Appleton. The Rev. Daniel Johnston will be officiating. The family will also receive friends at the church on Friday, November 8th from 11:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established in Todd's name and funds may be designated to benefit either Our Shepherd Childcare to provide financial assistance to families seeking Christian childcare here in Appleton, or Wears Valley Ranch, a Christian home and school for children in crisis situations in Tennessee.