Esther D. Johnson, age 91, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2023.  She was born January 3, 1932 in Oakland, California to Rudolf & Elsa Magnuson.

Esther was the youngest of three children. She grew up in the heart of Oakland in a stucco rambler. Some of her childhood memories included going fishing with her father on the weekend on San Francisco Bay, graham crackers after long walks home from school in the California fog, piano lessons and church activities, which included her singing solos starting at a very young age when her beautiful voice was discovered. She worked as a dental assistant following her high school graduation, and met her future husband, Milton, through mutual friends when he came from his home in Chicago to study at Stanford. After their engagement, Esther pursued her musical interest at North Park in Chicago, earning degrees in music and music education. She sang in many operas, touring the country to participate in North Park choir musical performances. After their marriage in 1956, Esther and Milton began their life together in Chicago. Douglas was born in 1958 and Cheryl and Linda followed soon. Esther devoted herself to homemaking, cooking, raising three children, and being a loving wife. She loved to garden, growing both flowers and vegetables as well as beautiful landscaping. She provided home-cooked meals, always enjoying trying a new recipe, and sewing clothing for herself and the children. In her spare time, she learned to refinish furniture and do some artistic painting. Esther was a faithful member of the Covenant Church and participated in many years of Sunday school education, vacation bible school, serving as a deaconess, and many other activities. Esther pursued her artistic interests in retirement age, taking many sessions of oil painting classes, during which she produced many beautiful landscape and still life works. Her love of classical music continued throughout her lifetime, and she continued to play piano and sing for pleasure into her eighties. Esther and Milton were married for 50 years until Milton's death in 2006.

She is survived by her three children: Douglas (Jean) Johnson, Cheryl (the late Ernest) Walton and Linda (Michael) McAllister; six grandchildren: Sarah (Lee) Martin, Rachel (Regan) Lundberg and Elizabeth Walton, Christopher, Erin, and Kaden McAllister; and 3 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Milton; her sister Dagmar and her brother David.

A private interment will be held at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.