Claudia Johnson

In her youth, Claudia attended grade school through 7th grade in Skokie, IL, with her siblings, and 8th grade through high school in Wheeling, IL. As a young girl, she would gather flowers on the way to school to give to her teachers. Claudia attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, for one year and spent her summers working on Mackinac Island, MI. To get to Mackinac Island, she conquered two of her fears: driving over the Mackinac Bridge and flying in a small plane onto the island. Later in life, she completed her Associates Degree and multiple certifications to expand her opportunities in the child care field.

At 21, she met Dan Johnson on Mackinac Island. She was working at Horn's Bar, and he was a horse-drawn taxi driver. Her 24-year relationship with Dan opened up many adventures for her, including crossing the Mackinac Straits on snowmobile and annual camping trips in the Hiawatha National Forest with his family. She also became a mother. Claudia loved being a mom, and her eyes would light up whenever she talked about her daughter.

Claudia spent decades working with toddlers as an early childcare educator and adored her job. She also enjoyed camping, photography, spending time in her garden, cooking, and traveling to see her boyfriend Karl Propst play live music.

Claudia had some advice she would like to pass on to everyone: "Don't get tied down too much with your schedules. If you plan on cleaning and it's a sunny day, go do something beautiful outside. Don't pass up if someone says, ‘Hey, let's go do this,’ because you're so stuck in your routine. Take little chances. Say yes every once in a while. It will make you happy. Try new things. Be good to each other; love each other."

Some of Claudia's "say yes" moments brought her to San Francisco, the 1984 Olympics, and winning big on the minimum bet on the Fire Link machines. Her love and kindness was felt by family, friends, her students and their families, and the nurses and doctors who cared for her in her final months, with many reaching out before and after her passing to tell her she brought light and warmth to their lives.

There will be no formal service, but Claudia encouraged everyone to find a way to celebrate her that made sense to them. Her daughter suggests going to have a cherry malt, Claudia’s favorite dessert, in her memory.

Claudia is survived by daughter, Abigail D. Johnson, and soon to be son-in-law Douglas L. Hissong Jr.; brother Gregory O. Beljaeff, sister-in-law Darlene Beljaeff, their children Kimberly Dawn and Christopher, as well as Christopher's daughter Ava Beljaeff; brother Eugene O. Beljaeff (Amy) and their children Alexander, Nathaniel, and Graham; brother Philip O. Belyaev (Kym) and their children Andrew Konstantaras, Kathryn Konstantaras, Zachary, and Alexis; sister Tamara Beljaeff Deterts (Gary); uncle Theodore P. (Lenore) Pristash; aunt Mary A. (Pristash) Boscher, cousin Catherine Boscher-Murphy (Michael J.) and daughter Caitlyn Marie, cousin Kenneth P. Boscher, cousin Carol R. Boscher; 2nd cousins James (Becky Blue) Dorf and Juli (Dorf)(James) Brainard.

She was preceded in death by parents Oleg W. and Dorothy Katherine (Pristash) Beljaeff; maternal grandparents Peter W. and Thekla K. (Fanik) Pristash; paternal grandparents Vladimir A. and Maria D. Beljaev; 1st cousin once removed Sandra Dorf and her husband Jerome Dorf; boyfriend Karl Propst.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate your time, monetary contributions, or supplies to your local childcare center or your local healthcare center.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grlansing.com for the Johnson family.