Obituary: Johnson

Reva Johnson, 93, Pontiac, passed peacefully into Heaven, surrounded by her family on January 22, 2026.

Reva was born September 16, 1932, in Waterman IL, the first child of Harvey and Inez Beard and spent her early years on the farm in the Hinkley/Big Rock area.  After graduating from DeKalb High School, Reva worked for local newspapers in DeKalb and Champaign/Urbana, helping & following Paul as he attended the University of Illinois, pursuing his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.  Reva and Paul married on June 14, 1953, in DeKalb.  Paul passed in 2012.

Surviving Reva are her 3 children, Marshall (Patricia) Johnson, Pontiac; Tom (Rashell) Johnson, Concord, MI and Cindy (Steve) Stalter, Lexington; five grandchildren, Christina (Ryan) Clark, Tricia (Jeff) Minor, Drew (Stephanie) Johnson, Derek (Jen) Johnson and Stu Stalter; and 9 great-grandchildren.  Reva was preceded in death by her brother Curt.

Paul and Reva established their home in Chenoa IL in 1955; then to Lake Odessa, MI, in 1974; then to Dodgeville, WI in 1988; and finally back to Pontiac, IL in 2007.

They made life-long friends and were active in their churches in each of the communities they resided.  More recently, Reva was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Pontiac and valued her church family where she found enjoyment in fostering friendships, bible study sessions, her Tuesday night supper club, Christian fellowship and daily prayer.  Reva enjoyed singing in the choir in the churches she attended throughout her life, as well as attending the Pontiac Municipal Band concerts in the summertime.  She enjoyed baking, tending to her flowers, rooting for her Bears & Packers, the company of her cherished pets, feeding her backyard birds and decorating her home with the changing seasons.   

Reva’s family extends their sincere appreciation for the care and compassion extended by her Turtle Drive neighbors (especially the Edens & Fairfields), the staff at Evenglow Lodge (especially Jason Fox), St. James Hospital & Dr John Rinker and her First Baptist Church family & Pastor Jim Wolfe.  Reva considered her 19 years in Pontiac a true blessing.

A private family graveside service is planned at a later date.  Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Chenoa is in charge of arrangements.