The Light in the world is less bright today with the January 9th passing of Dolores Althea Johnson, Dolly to those that knew and loved her.

Dolly was born 11/2/1928, the third of eight children born to Carmon and Euclid Whittaker. She married the love of her life Lauren (Sonny) Johnson in 1948 and together they raised two daughters to be strong, independent women, but most of all kind and compassionate.

As a young girl growing up in Chicago, she "fibbed about her age" as she would say and went to work at Douglas Aircraft as a welder. She was extremely proud of the time she worked alongside the young women who were doing all they could to serve the war effort back home.

Dolly was active in many organizations throughout her life, but the American Legion and their Auxiliary were the organizations she was most passionate about. Having grown up during the war she recognized the importance of the services they provided and valued the significant friendships she and Sonny made during the many years they belonged.

Dolly was the consummate caregiver. Her Father died at the age of 48 when Dolly was just 18 years old. Shortly after she and Sonny married, they took Dolly's youngest sibling DeAnna, age 8 into their home and raised her until she left to be married. What followed was a long succession of children of various relatives that came to live with them.  Some stayed just a few months, one stayed for two years and another for ten. No matter the length of time, Dolly and Sonny provided a warm and loving home and treated these children as their own.

To say that Dolly will be missed is an understatement. She touched so many lives in such a positive way that she will be long remembered for the kind, compassionate and feisty woman she was.

Dolly was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sonny; special "daughter," DeAnn Olson; great-granddaughter, Hope LaJoie; and brothers and sisters, Harvey Sr., Marginia, Ronald, Richard and Deanna.

Those left to carry on her legacy, her daughters, Laurel "Kookie" (Gary) LaJoie of Iron River, and Pam (Rick) Lapham of Iron River; grandsons, Chris (Jill) LaJoie of South Range, Casey (Ronnie) LaJoie of Iron River; great-grandchildren, Colten LaJoie, Chloe and Phoebe Legge, and Faith and Grace LaJoie; sisters, Carol Ronn of Plymouth, WI, and Janice (Gerald) LaGesse of Buda, TX; special nephew, Tim Soderlund of Racine; and many nieces and nephews.

A mass of the resurrection at the Church of St. Alban the Martyr will be held on Saturday January 18th with visitation from 11:00 until the mass at noon with Rev. Steven Burns. Burial will be held at the Spooner Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Honorary pallbearers will be Chris, Casey, and Colten LaJoie, Tim, Jeff, and Mike Soderlund; and Susan Slough.