SOUTHWICK – On March 5th, Elisabeth “Liz” Johnson, lovingly known as Oma, age 89, (1936-2026) departed from this world. She was born on August 15th, 1936, in Wurzburg, Germany, the daughter of Dora Kleinschmidt Kirchner. It was in her hometown of Wurzburg that she met the love of her life, a young American soldier, Allen Johnson. They married in Wurzburg and later settled in Southwick, Massachusetts, Allen’s hometown. Though Liz was a city girl at heart, she embraced country life with grace and humor.
Liz was known for her lively spirit and the many roles she filled with love. She could often be found retrieving wayward horses and pigs from the street, laughing as she guided them home. She loved horseback riding, a joy that deepened her connection to the animals she cared for and the rural life she grew to cherish. She was an avid Bingo player and enjoyed square dancing with Allen, the two of them moving together with an ease that reflected their deep bond.
She was a caring and devoted mother—not only to her own children but also to her nephews. Her home was a gathering place, filled with the aroma of Sunday lunches, holiday dinners, and countless family cookouts. Liz loved to travel, and she found joy in planting flowers and tending to her many hanging plants, each one a small expression of her nurturing nature.
Liz was preceded in death by her beloved husband Allen, her cherished in-laws Helen and Helge Johnson—who became like adopted parents to her—her son-in-law Edward Dunn, and her grandson-in-law Brad Emmelmann.
She is survived by her five children: Phyllis Dunn of West Suffield; Ronald Johnson of Tennessee; Susan Rera (Tony) of Cornwall, NY; Kathy Wild (Paul) of South Hadley; and Michelle “Missy” Johnson (Brian) of Southwick. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, each one carrying a piece of her love forward.
Burial will take place at the Southwick New Cemetery at a future date.
Though she has left our sight, she will never leave our hearts.
