Eliza Marguerite Johnson, 84

law introduced her to a local widower. They fell in love and she, and Don Rzeszotarski were married on June 21, 1959 in Atkinson, NE. Eliza became an instant parent to Don’s daughter at that time and later gave birth to four other daughters during the marriage. She embraced motherhood by sewing matching dresses for her daughters, leading Girl Scout Troops, teaching Sunday School and a myriad of other activities that allowed her to be involved with her daughters.

Eliza, Don and the girls took many trips together. They never had luxury accommodations and usually ate picnic lunches along the way, but they still managed to travel to places such as Yellowstone, the east coast, the west coast, the Canadian Rockies, Yosemite National Park, Washington, D.C. and more. The travels the family took together are some of the family’s favorite memories.

Tragedy struck the family in 1992 when the family’s youngest daughter, Roseanne, died in a car crash. The couple turned to the Compassionate Friends organization to help them through the difficult days of grief. Some years later, they channeled their grief into helping others going through similar situations. They reached out to other grieving parents and started a local chapter of Compassionate Friends. Their resilience during a difficult time was a model of how to handle adversity to their daughters.

After the couple became empty nesters, Eliza entered the working world by first working at Seger’s Café in O’Neill, NE and later working for NorthStar Services, where she worked with disabled adults, a job she enjoyed immensely. After she stopped working, she was a hospice volunteer for AseraCare where she would sit and lend support to patients in the final stages of life. Service to others was the theme of her life and many people are the beneficiary of her kind and giving heart.

After Don died in 2012, Mom filled her days with family and church activities. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and nothing delighted her more than spending time with them. She made amazing cinnamon rolls and chicken noodle soup for her family.

When Eliza’s health began to fail, she moved into Prairie Winds Assisted Living and later, into the Good Samaritan Center, both in Atkinson. In true Eliza fashion, she accepted the life changes with grace and positivity. Her final days were marked with visits and calls from her many grandchildren and children, all of whom are the better because of how loved they were by her. When she left this life on February 3, 2023, she was surrounded by her four daughters praying and singing over her.

She is survived by four daughters, Roxanne (Russ) Brotsky of Surprise, AZ, Joan (Mike) Farrier of Lindsay, NE, Susanne (Mitch) Boese of Newton, KS and Joyce Cullen of Augusta, KS; 17 grandchildren and 38 greatgrandchildren; sister, Jean (Murray) Mellor of Atkinson and sister-in-law, Ruth Johnson of Lebanon, MO.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Don Rzeszotarski; daughter, Roseanne Rzeszotarski; parents, Hans and Anna Johnson, Frank and Ruth Johnson; siblings, Frank, Jr., Dan, Chet, Niels, Ralph, Sarah Furry, Ruth Wallace, Johanna Johnson and MaryAnn Luther; son-in-law, Gary Cullen; infant grandson, Justin Rzeszotarski; and infant great-grandson, Logan Cullen-Plugge.

Services were held February 10, 2023 at the First Presbyterian Church in Atkinson with burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Services were conducted by Pastor Wayne Owens. Pall bearers were grandsons, Jason Brotsky, Chris Farrier, Troy Farrier, Shane Farrier, Sean Farrier, Aaron Juracek, Max Welshans, Craig Cullen, Brent Cullen and Matthew Cullen.

Seger Funeral Home of Atkinson is in charge of arrangements. The legacy Eliza left behind was one of faith in God and love of family and we will all be the better for it.

Eliza Marguerite Johnson, 84, passed away February 3, 2023 in Atkinson, NE.

Eliza Marguerite Johnson was born December 4, 1938 to Frank and Ruth Johnson of Long Pine, NE. When Eliza was 10 months old, her mother Ruth died, and when Frank was unable to care for the toddler, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Hans and Anna Johnson of Ainsworth, NE who loved, nurtured and raised her as their own daughter. By all accounts, little Eliza was a sweet little girl and a good student.

Eliza graduated from high school in Ainsworth and went on to teach school in Sparks, NE. During this time, her sister and brotherin-