Vienna “Vicki” Johnson
Vienna “Vicki” E. (Lehikoinen) Johnson, 89, of Eagle River, WI, passed away with her loving family by her side on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Milestone Senior Living in Eagle River.
Vicki was born on June 14, 1936, in Ironwood Township, MI, to the late Erick and Hilma (Kekalainen) Lehikoinen. She graduated from Luther L. Wright high school in Ironwood, MI, in 1954.
She married Freeman L. Johnson on October 11, 1958, in Ironwood, MI. They have celebrated 67 years of marriage together and Eagle River was their home for the past 62 years.
Vicki started working as a bookkeeper at Lahti Chevrolet in Ironwood and finished her career after many years at Richter Redi-Mix in Eagle River.
Vicki was very proud of her Finnish heritage and her ability to speak and read the language. Learning about and researching genealogy for herself and Freeman was a fun hobby that she pursued. She was an excellent homemaker, especially cooking and baking many Finnish recipes.
Vicki thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and nature, especially fishing off her dock at Pardee Lake, berry picking and driving along the Lake Superior lakeshore to Bayfield in the summer, taking a scenic fall color tour, or snowshoeing and ice fishing during the winter months. She and Freeman found joy together in each season living and traveling in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan.
Vicki is survived by her husband, Freeman; their daughter, Lynn Johnson, Oregon; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jean and Larry Korpela, Wausau, WI; and by many nieces/nephews; great nieces/great nephews; and dear family friends.
Vicki was preceded in death by her parents; and her two sisters, Elsa Stanek and Nikki Stilen.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the Eagle River Milestone Senior Living staff and to the Compassus Hospice Care nurses for their loving care of Vicki.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday June 2, 2026 at the Gafney-Busha Funeral Home in Eagle River, WI. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood, MI.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com
