Denise Johnson

“I remember falling asleep and waking up with a blanket on me. It made me feel loved and cared for. My mom had come looking for me and took time to cover me with a blanket.”

That was Denny’s first memory, and years later as she translated the book of Ruth (where she tells Boaz to cover her: to ni na, in Palaka), it still resonated with her as an intimate and loving act. With nearly perfect symmetry, her labored breathing fell silent on November 13, 2025, under a blanket gently spread by her loving husband Verne.

Denny was born on 11 March 1958, the sixth of seven children on the Karlen farm in Wisconsin. Throughout her life, she recalled the excitement of new outfits for the first day of school, Christmas, and Easter, and the joy of family dinners, with roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and Lazy Daisy cake. Her mother Doris nurtured Denny’s love of reading by taking her to the bookmobile and always made sure she had drawing materials and sticker books.

Whenever Denny was upset, her mother would send her out to weed the garden, knowing the weeds would really “fly.” She cherished memories of sitting beside her father Leonard on a roaring tractor, working together in the garage where her small fingers were helpful in reaching small parts, playing barber shop, and him calling her “Denisie.”

School days saw Denny gravitating toward communication, writing, biology, and art, while poetry and jokes filled the margins. Her year of nursing school in 1976 at UW Eau Claire brought new friendships, especially with Patty Kircher, her roommate and lifelong friend. Together, they navigated early mornings and spiritual journeys, with Patty eventually becoming Denny’s maid of honor.

Denny’s adventurous spirit led her to England with her friend Julie in 1980, where she lived in a cold manor, walked the lush countryside, and experienced culture shock in the Faroe Islands. These travels broadened her horizons and deepened her appreciation for the beauty of the world and the kindness of strangers.

Her wedding to Verne was a celebration of faith and family, and even mishaps like the smooshed wedding cake became cherished memories. Together, they went through missionary training and prepared to move to Indonesia before eventually heading to Ivory Coast in 1987, with two young kids in tow. They learned French and moved twice in the next two years, first to a sweltering little house without fans, where Denny nursed her husband and two kids during a three-month bout of malaria, riding their lab samples to the hospital on her bicycle while fully pregnant with her third child. Later, they moved off the grid completely and into a mud-brick-and-cement-plaster house, in a village of houses with thatched rooves. On her porch and under shade trees, Denny was finally able to do the medical work she had previously dreamed of. She sat with sick people in their homes, often making her best attempt in Palaka to share with them the hope of eternal life. She would go with the women to their fields and return with them singing as they carried hundreds of pounds of grain on their heads. She formed knitting circles and organized games with the kids, all the while gaining fluency in the language.

Denny faced the constant challenge of separation from family—both her immediate family in the US, whom she saw twice every 10 years, and her kids, who often attended boarding school 5 hours away. Finally, in 2000, Denny had the joy of sharing with the entire village the message of God’s love in Jesus, to an enthusiastic response. It was just in time, as war broke out in 2002, and her trips became more intermittent. In 2006, Inspired by a local elder’s plea for God’s word in their language, Denny embraced the challenge of Bible translation, trusting in God’s guidance and the support of her Palaka teammates, with whom she had previously worked on literacy and drama lessons. She considered it “the perfect way to spend the majority of my final years on earth” and rejoiced in the impact it would have on the Palaka community, considering it the second-greatest thing she produced, next to her family.

During the second half of her ministry, Denny greatly expanded literacy programs, adding youth scholarships, supporting evangelism in multiple villages, and organizing women’s conferences, weddings, and funerals among a growing network of Palaka churches. She celebrated the recording and editing of the audio version of the Palaka New Testament by her son-in-law Josh. Following Covid, the village was finally connected to the power grid, and an air conditioner was installed, which she got to use twice.

Following her diagnosis in 2024, Denny returned to the US to seek treatment and fully enjoy her seven grandkids; her joy was complete when an eighth arrived only two months ago. She is survived by her husband Verne, Christy and Josh Wohlgemut, Seth and Anna Johnson, Matt and Sky Johnson, and Dr. Bob Johnson, who will always be her baby.

Following the service, we welcome you to a casual reception with light refreshments beginning at 11:30 AM, where family will be present to share memories and fellowship.

In honor of Denny’s beautiful and colorful life, we kindly ask that guests wear colors other than black as we gather to celebrate and remember her.

For those that cannot attend in-person, a link to the livestream will be shared on social media through the First Baptist Church of Camdenton, Missouri.

A second, more informal memorial will be held in Edgar, Wisconsin at a later date; further details will be announced in the following days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palaka Team Account, supporting the people in Africa whom Denise deeply loved. To give, please visit: https://ethnos360.org/missionaries/verne-johnson Under the “Give” section, open the drop-down titled “Add instructions, designations or notes.” In the free-text box, simply write “Palaka Team Account” to ensure your gift is designated accordingly.

Your presence, love, and support mean so much to our family.