Sarah Rose Johnson

Posted

POLO – With great sadness the family of Sarah Rose Johnson (Smiley) announce her passing along with her son Oliver Daniel Michael Johnson. Sarah Johnson, 26, of Polo died pregnant with her baby boy in a tragic car accident on Dec. 11, 2017 only a few miles from her home.

Surviving the accident is husband, Daryl Allan Johnson, 27, and daughter, Kylia Olivia Ann Johnson age 4. Daryl and Kylia were transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital with injuries from the accident to recover surrounded by their loving family and friends.

Sarah was born on Feb. 13, 1991 in Downers Grove. Sarah grew up in Lanark with her five siblings, 35 first cousins, and many friends. Her days were filled with incredible people making memories, working hard, and living her life with smiles and laughter. Sarah made big holidays and celebrations with family and friends extraordinary with her happiness and special planning and documented family outings with pictures, and made everyday something to look forward to for everyone she knew.

It was on the conveyer belts of Rolling Hills Progress Center she met her true love and their high school romance started. Sarah graduated from Eastland High School in 2009 and then attended college at Northern Illinois University. In 2010, she married the love of her life Daryl (DJ) on Dec. 4. They moved to Fairbanks Alaska shortly after where DJ started his military career, and Sarah worked at the Army and Air Force Exchange Services as manager of hard lines and sporting goods. Their daughter Kylia was born in Alaska on July 19 2013. They moved back to Illinois in 2013 and started working right away to build their beautiful family life. They made a home in Polo, worked, got involved in their community and church. Sarah was an assistant manager at Wal-Mart in Freeport. DJ works at Exelon in Byron, volunteers at Polo Fire Department, and is in the Unites States Army Reserves. Sarah had a busy schedule but she made sure to share a smile, sarcastic remark, or made time for those she was close to daily. By far her favorite pastime was spending quality time with her husband, daughter, family and friends!

Sarah and Oliver Johnson are survived by her parents Mike and Gayle Hall of Shannon, brother/Godfather Eric (Jackie, Chloe Higgs, Madeline) Sundquist of Winnebago, brother Bryan Sundquist of Chicago, sister Jennifer (Austin, Audrey) Sundquist of Freeport, sister Kati (Robby, Charlie, Ellery, Berkeley, Magnolia) Shaw of Vesper, Wis., sister Kaye (Jonathan, Emmalyn (Goddaughter), Vanessa) Nichols of Wahiawa Hawaii, sister Leah (Nicholas, Mosheh) Balabuszko Wonewoc, Wis., and brother Carl (Sarah) Sundquist of Lanark.

 Sarah's cousins that filled her memories, vacations, and family holidays include: Jessica/Kelly Campbell, Marilyn Hammer, Connie/Calvin Cassens, Jeffery Hammer, Matt/Robin Hammer, Derek Hammer, Sean Hammer, William/Stephanie Hammer, Devon Bormann, Brendon Bormann, Joseph/Teresa Hammer, Leslie/Timothy Wenzel, Mitchell/Charity Hammer, Jami Hammer, BilliJo/Kenneth Myers, Walker Hammer, Wyatt Hammer, Jack Hammer, Patrick/Jenntry Dapkus, Stephen Dapkus, Morgan Monigold, Danielle Monigod, Phil/Valentina Koehlinger, Amy Koehlinger, Daniel McSweeney, Michael McSweeney, Mark McSweeney, David/Heather Skerik, Marilyn/Seth Bush, Roberta Skerik-Jimenez, Todd Goranson, Scott Goranson, Erin Shulfer, Megan Mendyk, John Mendyk, Caitlin Szczyptka, Jenna Szczypta, Cassie Ameiss and Anna Ameiss.

Surviving in-laws include Daniel and Sonia Johnson of Milledgville (Lily), Jeremiah and Kim Johnson (Jenadette, Cayden, Sage) of Austin, Texas, Jason and Angie Johnson (Blake, Bryce) of Rock Falls, Nathan and Katie Johnson (Everleigh) of McComb, Ashley and Brett Kreiser (Morgan, Addy) of Amboy, Britt and Chance Fontenot of Dixon, Christie and Kevin Sodaro of Sterling, Daniel Johnson of Milledgville, Devin Johnson of Milledgville, Mason of Milledgville and cousins. 

Sarah and Oliver are preceded by her grandparents William and Marilyn Hammer of Shannon, uncle Jeffery Hammer of Shannon, and cousin Tommy Dapkus. Grandma Mary Ann Hall of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Services for Sarah and Oliver will be as follows: Visitation was Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at Faith Discovery Church Polo, from 3-7 p.m. Funeral was Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 at Crossroads Community Church Polo, at 10:30 a.m. Burial followed at Fairmount Cemetery 1533 IL 26 South Polo, and then all were welcomed to attend a luncheon at the Crossroads after the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in honor of Sarah and Oliver Johnson.

Sarah and Oliver will lovingly be remembered by all.