Ginger

Johnson

Virginia (Ginger) Lynn Van Der Molen Johnson, age 79, of West Chicago, IL, went peacefully to be with the Lord on November 6, 2026, following an 11-month battle with cancer.

Ginger was born on June 11, 1947, in Geneva, IL, the fourth child of Bernard and Henrietta Van Der Molen. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Thomas (Tom) Lee Johnson; her parents; her sisters, Beverly Paigen and Gail Van Der Molen; and her brother, Edward Van Der Molen. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Soren and Ever (Horan) Johnson of Leesburg, VA, and their children, Ever, Owen, Berend, Virginia, and Charlie; Derek Johnson and Carolyn Hutchinson of Lake Forest, IL, and their children, Vivian and Anders; and Kirk and Marie-Josée (Cantin) Johnson of Los Angeles, CA, and their children, August and Isidora; her siblings, Debora Van Der Molen and Jeff (Ann) Van Der Molen; and many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws, and close friends.

Growing up in the “Mushroom House” on Geneva Rd. in Wheaton, IL, Ginger attended Wheaton Christian Grammar School and Wheaton Academy. At the Academy, she developed a love of music and singing that she carried with her for the rest of her life. She studied at the University of Grenoble, France (1968) and received her B.A. from the University of Michigan (1969) and her M.A. in marriage and family therapy from George Williams College (1976).

Ginger married the love of her life, Tom Johnson, in 1968. Together they raised three sons and welcomed three daughters – a term Ginger insisted on, as she never cared for “daughters-in-law” – and nine grandchildren. Her sons and their wives and her grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy. She encouraged each of them to go out into the world with a spirit of humility, a dedication to service, and a love for others. She and Tom – and then Ginger by herself after his death – hosted “Camp We-Go G-G” for their beloved grandchildren every summer for 19 years.

Ginger worked for a number of years as a marriage therapist, helping couples strengthen and navigate their relationships. Her time in Grenoble planted a lifelong love of the French language and what she called her “French family,” a close group of friends in France. She went on to teach French at Wheaton Academy for several years. Ginger devoted herself generously to the educational institutions that she loved, helping plan many reunions and serving on many boards, including Wheaton Academy and the Community High School District 94 Educational Foundation.

Alongside Tom, she took an active role in public life, community service, and ministry. In addition to their deep commitment to Wheaton Bible Church, Outreach Wheaton, and Missionary Furlough Homes, Ginger and Tom opened their home to refugees from Ukraine, Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina, often for years at a time. While Tom served as a state representative and senator in Illinois, Ginger worked as Family Policy Advisor to the Illinois Attorney General and advised countless political campaigns over the years. She was a passionate advocate for the unborn, serving as President of Illinois Citizens for Life and later on the board of Americans United for Life Legal Defense Fund.

In partnership with her brother Jeff, she also oversaw the Cornerstone Center Foundation, established by their parents. Together, she and Jeff turned their mother’s home into a guest house and welcomed more than 8,700 missionaries over 25 years. She also poured thousands of hours into one of her favorite volunteer jobs: working at Outreach’s Jubilee Furniture store, where she blended her love for people, furniture, and a good bargain.

Ginger had a deep love of beauty, nature, flowers, and antiques. This frequently led to spontaneous curbside stops to pick flowers or check out discarded furniture, despite the groans from her three boys in the backseat. Her passion for decor and design became Historic Florals, her floral arrangement business that brought joy to weddings, celebrations, and quiet everyday moments for many years.

Ginger’s greatest gifts were the people God placed along her way. One friend affectionately called her the “Queen of Connection,” which suited her perfectly. Ginger loved nothing more than learning the details of someone’s life – their story, family, hopes, and struggles – which she’d commit to heart. She was always thrilled to introduce the people she loved to one another, forever delighting in the joyous reminder of how connected we all are within God’s family.

†

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 29, at the Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Ave., in West Chicago. Visitation at 11 a.m. Service at 12:00 p.m. Reception to follow. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Ginger’s name may be made to Trinity House Community [www.trinityhousecommunity.org] or Seed to Sower Ministries [www.seedtosowerministries.org].