Carolyn Jeanette Johnson was born in Walworth County Hospital, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on September 13, 1927. Her parents, Alvin G. and Dena (Dyrness) Johnson, took her to her home in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. She attended 12 years of school in Williams Bay, graduating in 1945. She went on to Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and graduated in 1949, with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Secretarial Science.

Carolyn was born and raised in a wonderful Christian family, and on Palm Sunday at 8 years old received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and committed to live a Christian life and serve her Savior.

While at Wheaton College, Carolyn met her husband-to-be, (Gustav) Reimert Carlson of Rockford, Illinois. They were married at her home church in Williams Bay, WI on June 9, 1952. They lived and worked in Chicago for several years and then moved to Rockford. Reimert was employed in the automobile business, and Carolyn held several secretarial jobs including Ingersoll Milling Machine Co Secretary to the Vice President, Temple Baptist Church Pastor's Secretary, and Secretary to the Executive Director of Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center.

Son, Curtis Wesley, was added to their family in 1962. What a joy and blessing he brought to his parents! Carolyn was especially grateful for his help after Reimert's death in 1983.

On December 29, 1988 Carolyn was married to Marvin E. Johnson, whom she knew from Wheaton College. They were happily married for seven years when Marv was called to his heavenly home. One great blessing to Carolyn was their move to a Fairhaven duplex in 1992, where Carolyn continued to live for 23 years. She then moved into the Fairhaven main building until her death on April 23, 2024, at age 96.

Survivors include, son, Curt (Debra) Carlson and granddaughters Caitlin (Garrett) Sawyer and Hannah (Danny) Lee, stepdaughter Julie (Steve) Clum and granddaughters Jennifer (Jeff) Grandy and Katie Clum, stepson Todd (Ellen) Johnson and grandchildren Jessica (Rob) Anderson, Eric (Allie) Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kristen (Trevor) Hall, and 15 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 2nd at 2:00 p.m. at the Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center chapel. Memorials  may be directed to Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL 61114.