Amelda A. "Mel" Johnson, 84, Hobart, died Saturday, May 6, 2023. She was born September 3, 1938, in Little Chute, to Nicholas and Ann (Kroes) Huisman.

Amelda was the youngest of her 12 siblings and was born at home. She graduated Class of 1956, from St. John's High School, in Little Chute. She was proud to say she made homecoming court!

She met Richard "Dick" Johnson while they were working at Elm Tree Bakery and married him on August 28, 1965. They married at St. John's Catholic Church in Little Chute, and together they had four children. Throughout her life, she worked a handful of jobs, from payroll at Kimberly Clark to retiring from Employer's Health Insurance in 2001 but was a homemaker most of her life and was very proud of that; she was the best Mom, as her kids would say.

Mel was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. She and Dick did a lot of camping in their retirement and loved traveling in their camper. They made trips to Arizona, Alaska and Florida, and Vermont. Mel enjoyed gardening. When her kids were younger, they recalled gardening with Mom, and selling vegetables at the farmer's market. Mel also loved to paint ceramics as well as feeding the birds and deer that came to visit her back yard. She especially enjoyed the cardinals, hummingbirds and orioles.

Mel was a very involved Mom and Grandma. She loved her six grandsons very much and never missed a sporting event.

She is survived by her children, Mary Kaye (Paul Barribeau) Johnson, Douglas (Lisa) Johnson, Glen Johnson, Susan (James) Riewe; six grandsons, Jacob (Kaitlyn) Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Brady (Danielle VandeHey) Riewe, Cody Riewe, Nathan Riewe, Kyle Barribeau; a great grandchild; sisters-in-law, Patricia Wilinski, Carolyn (Lee) DuChateau, Vivian Huisman; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Mel was preceded in death by her husband, Richard "Dick" Johnson; her parents; her mother and father-in-law; her eleven siblings and their spouses; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Friends may call at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2771 Oakwood Dr., from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 15. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 5:00 p.m. Burial will be in Fort Howard Memorial Park. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com .

A special thank you is extended to all of the ICU nurses, Dr. Huxford and Dr. Nusrat, all of St. Vincent Hospital, who tried valiantly to help Mom. A thank you is also extended to Unity Hospice, Dr. Roth and the 7 ^th floor team at St. Vincent for making Mom feel comfortable when she chose to stop fighting. We cannot extend a higher gratitude to you all!