Annemarie (Schill) Johnson

Annemarie Johnson (née Schill) died peacefully on September 21, 2021 at the age of 89 with her family by her side.  Annemarie was born on January 23, 1932 in Fichtwerder, Germany and was the second of three children of Louis and Margarete Schill.  

Annemarie lived through and experienced WWII firsthand and had many fascinating stories both about the horrors and suffering of war but, more importantly, about the friendship, compassion and selflessness of people who were willing to help each other.  She truly embodied the best of humankind … family, kindness, compassion, generosity, empathy, loyalty and love for others.

Annemarie met and married the love of her life, Orville (O.B.) Johnson in Trier, Germany while he was working for the General Dynamics Corporation.  They were blessed with four children, Ben Leroy, Stefanie, Ben Lloyd and Dirk while in Europe and moved to the United States in 1965 where they lived in Texas for a short while before relocating to Arkansas City.  Annemarie was happiest when she was caring, nurturing and cooking for her family and others.  She was a homemaker and a community volunteer including Cub Scouts, 4-H, her children’s elementary school classrooms, Army Mothers, Junior Service League, Meals on Wheels, hospital Pink Ladies, and the Beta Sigma Phi sorority just to name a few.  Additionally, she loved to sew, quilt, play games and take walks with her husband, family and friends.  After O.B. retired, they enjoyed 23 years traveling around the country in a motor home enjoying the sites, friends, and hikes in the mountains.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her older brother Walter, her infant son Ben Leroy, her son Ben Lloyd and her husband, Orville.  She is survived by her daughter, Stefanie Darlington and husband, John, of Mason, Ohio; her son, Dirk Johnson and wife, Kimbra, of Montgomery, Texas; her five grandchildren, Tyler and Ashley Holmes; Adam Willett and Megan Darlington; and Emma Darlington; her two great-grandchildren, Harper and Beckham Holmes; and her sister, Dorothea Heinz and partner, Frank Wackett.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Riverview Cemetery, 1502 N. 15th Street, Arkansas City, KS followed by a post-service reception at the Shelley Family Funeral Home, 906 W. Kansas Ave., Arkansas City, KS.  All are welcome and attire is casual.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor Employee Scholarship Fund in appreciation for the kind and compassionate care she received there.  Contributions may be sent to the Shelley Family Funeral Home.

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