Sandra Jean (Bennis) Johnson, 84, formerly of Galesburg, died at 9:20 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Advent Health Care, LaGrange, Illinois.
Sandra was born August 31, 1937 in Lincoln, Illinois the daughter of Leo and Mildred (Heinrich) Bennis. She married Conrad Peter Johnson on July 24, 1965 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lincoln, Illinois. Pete preceded Sandra in death on November 21, 2022. Sandra is survived by two sons, Gregory (Julie) Johnson of Clarendon Hills, Illinois and Steve (DeAnna) Johnson of Springfield, Illinois; and five grandchildren. Along with her husband and parents, Sandra was preceded in death by a brother, William Bennis and her bonus mother, Juanita Pelman.
Sandra received her BS in education from Illinois State University. She went on to teach at an Army Base in Munich, Germany. Sandra went on to earn her master’s degree from Western Illinois University. Sandra had a teaching career that spanned 33 years, retiring from CUSD #205 in 1996. She could always be found cheering on her sons and eventually her grandchildren at their sporting events. Sandra had a sense of community about her, volunteering countless hours. She was an active member at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, active in JFL, and at Cottage Corner as well as a long-time volunteer for State Rep Don Moffitt. She enjoyed the years her and Pete wintered in Fort Myers Beach, FL; enjoyed Broadway shows, and musicals. Sandra was a longtime closet scrapbooker.
Visitation will be 11-12 p.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Galesburg. The rosary will be prayed at 12 p.m. with the funeral mass to follow. A funeral luncheon will follow mass at the McAteer Center, all are invited to attend. Cremation will be accorded following mass. Family burial of cremated remains for Pete and Sandra will be on their 57th wedding anniversary, Sunday, July 24, 2022 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Galesburg. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church or the Galesburg Public Schools Foundation. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
