Charlotte “Char” Johnson (née Carlson)
Charlotte “Char” Johnson (née Carlson)
Charlotte “Char” Johnson (née Carlson), formerly Pedersen, age 84, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and formerly of Plum City, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 8, 2025, at St. Therese Nursing Home in Brooklyn Park, with her family by her side.
Charlotte was born on August 18, 1941, in Plum City, Wisconsin, to Arnold and Anna Carlson. Charlotte was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Plum City, where she married John Pedersen on June 18, 1960. Their marriage lasted until 1984. She later married Robert (Bob) Johnson on January 4, 1995, in Hennepin County, MN.
Charlotte attended Little Plum School in Pepin, WI. and graduated from Plum City High School in 1959. During her school years, she played the cornet and accordion, sang in the choir, and was active in 4-H.
For 57 years (1968-2025), Charlotte was a devoted member of Brooklyn United Methodist Church (BUMC) in Brooklyn Center, MN. Her church community was central to her life. She served faithfully in many roles, including volunteering in the welcome center, drove the bus for youth skiing trips, baked desserts for bake sales, helped with garage sales, and participated in a mission trip to UMCOR Sagar Brown depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, where she assisted in assembling disaster relief kits for those affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires.
Charlotte found great joy in attending her children’s sporting events and their band, choir, and orchestra performances. Charlotte enjoyed gardening, fishing, reading, puzzles, crossword puzzles, knitting, sewing, and talking on the phone with friends and family. One of her favorite pastimes was playing cribbage and participating in tournaments.
Charlotte dedicated 46 years to serving her community as a school bus driver, working for Osseo/Brooklyn Bus Co. and later with First Student. She was also an avid bowler for over 20 years and was well known as a Tupperware consultant for more than 35 years.
For seven years, Charlotte and her late husband Robert (“Bob”), along with their dog Mushqua, managed Misaw Lake Lodge, a fly-in fishing camp in Saskatchewan, Canada, where she served as host, cook, and housekeeper.
Charlotte and Robert (“Bob”), owned property in Pepin, Wisconsin, known as “Swede Rambles,” until 2023, and enjoyed many years there hunting, sharing quiet time, and hosting family gatherings.
Together, Charlotte and Robert also owned two Morgan show horses and took great pride in watching their youngest daughters, Lisa and Pam, compete in horse shows.
Charlotte loved to travel and visited Alaska, Canada, Denmark, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, North and South Dakota, Oregon, Sweden (twice), Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Anna Carlson; brothers Richard, Swede (Herman), Nicholas, and nephew Richard Jr.; her husband, Robert Johnson; stepchildren Tom, Barb, Susie, and Mike; grandson Isaiah; and great-grandson Levi.
Charlotte is survived by her sister Phyllis (Alan), brother John (Sandy), children Charalin (Stan), Jack (Samantha), Julia, Daniel (Michele), Pamela, and David (Julie); stepchildren Gig (Dan), Billy (Mary), and Lisa; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Charlotte will be remembered for her gentle spirit, unwavering kindness, deep compassion, and the quiet generosity with which she touched so many lives.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Plum City American Legion in Plum City, Wisconsin.
