Eleanor (Gawell) Johnson, age 97, of Kiel, Wisconsin and formerly of Wadsworth, IL and Lemont, Illinois, passed away on March 29, 2026 in Kiel, Wisconsin.

Eleanor was born on April 14, 1928 in Chicago, IL, the youngest daughter of Ella (Koeppen) Gawell and Frederik Gawell. She graduated from Fanger High School in 1946, then went on to Central College in Pella Iowa, earning a teaching degree in Elementary Education. She taught school in Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, teaching in Lemont School District 113A for more than 30 years.

Eleanor married Walter T. Johnson on June 22, 1957 in Winamac, Indiana.  They moved to Lemont, Illinois in 1958 to open and operate a Tastee Freeze franchise. They were married for 46 years.  They had 3 children Ralph Johnson, Lemont, Il, Cheryl (Johnson) Thomas, Kiel Wisconsin, and Eric Johnson, Morris, Il.  They moved from Lemont in 1991 and lived in West Allis, Wisconsin and Wildwood and Wadsworth, Illinois, before Eleanor settled in Kiel, Wisconsin.

Eleanor loved teaching.  She loved to learn and loved passing on her love of learning to her students, friends, and neighbors.  She was a self-declared tom-boy, and was game to try most anything.  Eleanor enjoyed playing games and was accomplished at Ping Pong, Roller Skating, and Bowling. She loved to sing and make people smile with her quick wit, and abundant hugs (and pinches).  She enjoyed traveling, spending time at the family lake cottage in Michigan, and spending time with people who would become life-long friends. Because of her guiding nature, accumulated wisdom, big heart, and welcoming manner, more people called her Grandma than Eleanor later in her life.

Eleanor was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lemont, IL, and attended Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, IL each for over 25 years. She was president of Lady Lions and a founding member of Friends of the Library in Lemont, Illinois. As a member of Wildwood, Eleanor organized Senior Bible study and volunteered for missions supporting the homeless, mothers of preschoolers, and visitations. She tutored ESL students, and was active in many community endeavors.

Remaining to cherish Eleanor's memory are her children Ralph (Vilija) Johnson, Cheryl (Mark) Thomas, Eric (Denise) Johnson; 8 grandchildren Sara Thomas, Noel Thomas, Anna Thomas, Alyssa Johnson, Erika (Alex) Francisco, Seth Johnson, Teja Johnson, Dustin Johnson; 4 great-grandchildren Ryder Francisco, Brynnlee Francisco, Jameson Francisco, and Colter Francisco; several nieces and nephews, and her many friends, fellow teachers and students.

Preceding Eleanor in death are her husband Walter Johnson (2003), sister Dorothy Cupak (2019), brothers Raymond Gawell (2003), Arthur Gawell (1996), Robert Gawell (1977).

Visitation will be held at Meiselwitz-Vollstedt-DeTroye Funeral Home (815 6th Street, Kiel, Wisconsin) on Thursday, April 16 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm with a celebration of life at 5:30 p.m. and at Markiewiez Funeral Home, Lemont, Illinois, April 18 from 10:00am – 1:00 pm. Interment will be in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Lemont, Illinois.

Memorial donations in Eleanor's memory may be directed to Bethany Lutheran Church, Lemont, Illinois, Wildwood Presbyterian Church Grayslake, Illinois, or Nature's Grace Gardens, Kiel, Wisconsin.