Marcia L. Johnson

Marcia L. Johnson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 26, 2025, in Woodstock, Ill. Marcia was born on May 27, 1948, in Roseau, Minn., to Gladys and Irvin Johnson. A true Minnesotan at heart her entire life, Marcia always felt blessed to have come from a small town where everyone knew everyone. Spending time on the family farms outside of town, especially with her cousin, ReNae, was some of her most treasured time. As was true for a lot of Roseau kids, ice skating was central to their lives (she still had original hand-sewn costumes from the skating shows she participated in).

Marcia graduated from Roseau High School in 1966, and Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., in 1970. She participated in a life-changing Community of Christ program in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 1968 during the time of riots following the assassination of Robert Kennedy. After college, a professor asked her if she had thought about seminary. She hadn’t, but the Lutheran Church in America had recently voted to open their seminaries to women, and thus her journey continued down this path, and she enrolled at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She graduated from LSTC in 1976 and was ordained in 1977 – she was the third woman in Illinois to be ordained in the LCA (which later merged and became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). She met John Clark while attending seminary, and they were married in 1974. Together, they had three children, Matt, Becca, and Katie, whom she adored and to whom she did her best to pass on her love of all things Minnesota. She and John served together in ministry for many years and were later divorced. After 15 years together, when they were finally able to legally do so, she and Annette Jasiota were married in 2015.

She first served dual parishes in Berkeley and Bellwood, Ill., and then later in Naperville, Ill. (Our Savior’s Lutheran) and Woodstock (Grace Lutheran). She always thought it was a great honor for people to let her into their lives. She was instrumental in helping other women discern their paths in ministry. She was true to herself, loved for her mighty character, a strong advocate for what was right and a person of truth and worth. She was known for her deep compassion, always having time to listen to someone who needed to talk, delivering insightful sermons that always felt as if she was speaking directly to you, or offering a perspective that you just hadn’t thought about.

She served as an Assistant to the Bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA, Rockford, Ill., and thereafter served as the Associate Director for Synodical Relations at the ELCA, Chicago, from 2000 – 2018 acting as the churchwide liaison to the 65 U.S. Bishops. She had a passion for traveling, and in this role she was able to nurture this passion with planning and facilitating academies and conferences for bishops and vice presidents in many parts of the country and world. She retired in 2018.

Marcia was a very involved member of Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, McHenry, Ill., where she served on the board in various capacities, served on many committees and officiated at many rites of passage. She served on the boards of Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., and Family Alliance, Woodstock, among others. She was one of the founders of the Food Shed Co-op in Woodstock, having been in on the initial brain storming and discussions, and helping it come to fruition in McHenry County. She was instrumental in advocating for social justice issues in the community and enjoyed participating in the Woodstock Community Choir.

In later years, it was the simple things that brought her great joy, especially spending time with her grandchildren. She and Annette took many road trips to Vermont, Texas, and Minnesota where the grandkids lived. Upon their return home, she would immediately ask when they could go again.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, cousin ReNae Sherman who was more like her sister, many aunts, uncles, and other cousins.

She will continue to be deeply missed by her spouse, Annette; children, Matt (Sarah) Clark-Johnson, Becca (Andrew) Merrill, Katie Clark-Johnson (Eric Perron); grandchildren, Liam Clark-Johnson, Axl and Zella Merrill, and Oliver and Henry Perron; brother, Errol (Christine) Johnson; nephew, Michael Johnson (Father Philaret); many cousins; and oh, so many friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, McHenry, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. with a visitation beforehand from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Alzheimer’s Association or American Cancer Society.