Our loving wife, mother, sister, Aunt, and friend Jolene Carole Robinson Johnson passed away March 11, 2018 after a short, furious battle with cancer. Jolene was born Jan 16th 1952 at Seattle Washington to Jack and Helen (Heston) Robinson. Growing up at 10700 68th Ave S in a loving and fun neighborhood she enjoyed and flowered many friendships which endure to this day. She met the love of her life and husband Richard Johnson while attending a friend’s wedding at Flint Michigan in 1973. Jolene and Dick married in Seattle, Washington on September 14, 1974 and established a home near Flint.
Jolene was mom to Stacey (Greg) Christian, Wayne (Heidi) Johnson, Amanda Johnson, Joseph (Katie) McGinnis and many foreign exchange students. Grandmother to 16, and Great Grandmother to 2. She was Aunt to 4 nieces, 9 nephews, and several grandnieces and grandnephews. She is survived by her husband, children, brother Randy (Debbie) Robinson, sisters, Peggy Walker, Lorie (Paul) Mansfield, sister-in-law Peggy Johnson Kimball and brother-in-law Bill Stephenson. She was predeceased by her parents, her in-laws Raymond and Clara Johnson, brothers-in-law George Walker and Wally Kimball, and sister-in-law Sylvia Stephenson.
College summers were spent working as a camp counselor rising to the position of Camp Director. Her college endeavors resulted in a Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan in “Music K-12 Education” and a Master’s in “The Art of Education” from Marygrove College. She enjoyed a 20 year career teaching music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, being the beloved favorite teacher to many hundreds of students. Recently Jolene had established a class through the Phoenix VA teaching guitar to Vets suffering with PTSD. It was with great joy and pride that she was able to share both her teaching and music skills to help those Vets.
If Jolene was anything she was an artist. Particularly when exercising her passion for music, playing the guitar, the piano, or sharing her immaculate voice. She showed levels of talent and joy few are ever able to achieve. Be it in design or decorating, sewing or stitchery, cooking or baking, woodworking or paper mache, if it required an artistic touch Jolene had it mastered. She loved to make Wedding Cakes. For family and friends, she turned out professional style masterpieces offered with love and one stipulation, if either of the lucky couple smashed cake into the other’s face, the cake would cost “Full Retail”. To our knowledge no one ever had to pay for their cake.
Jolene loved and was loved by all who met her. She will be missed more than can ever be expressed. Rest in peace dear Jo.

Services will be held in Apache Junction, Arizona, Flint, Michigan and Seattle, Washington