Audrey "Jackie" (Johnson) Lund

Audrey Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Lund, age 83, of North Branch, peacefully passed away January 22, 2025, at Ecumen North Branch Assisted Living, with members of family by her side.

Jackie was born April 7, 1941, in Fish Lake Township, MN to Clarence and Dorothy (Calander) Johnson. She was baptized at Fish Lake Lutheran in Stark, confirmed at Spring Lake Lutheran, attended grade school at Fish Lake Country School and graduated from North Branch High School in 1958. After graduation, she moved to Minneapolis to work in the typing pool for an insurance company, living in an apartment with other girls with whom she worked (she was only 17 when she graduated high school!). Jackie met and dated Paul, and they were married at Spring Lake Lutheran Church on October 13, 1962. They had two sons, Lance and Lorne, and one daughter, Lynette.

If there is one single word to define Jackie, it would be “caregiver”. After spending her first few years of marriage caring for her children, she went to work at Green Acres Nursing Home (now Ecumen) in North Branch. She first started working for a “little while to help pay for the bunk beds” that she and Dad picked up for Lance and Lorne. That little while turned into a 37-year career, during which she worked as a nurse’s aide (CNA) and medical aide, having provided care for countless residents, including her parents-in-law.

In addition to caring for all those people, she was her husband Paul’s primary caregiver for 42 years after his stroke. Jackie was a strong advocate for Paul. In addition to tending to his personal needs, she was his voice/interpreter when he couldn’t speak for himself, his extra hand and runner to get the “right” tool when something needed to be fixed, and tow driver for the riding mower to the Dalstorp Cemetery when the grass needed mowing. She also had to learn and take on a number of roles that, in her generation, were traditionally reserved for the man of the house. Literally every facet of her life was affected. Mom’s strength and resolve to care for Dad was unmatched, and she also finished raising two high-school aged children and got them off to college.

Jackie was also involved in her community and church. She and Paul were founding members of the Adults with Disabilities support group in North Branch. She was a long-time editor/chief correspondent for the “Vine and Branches” church newsletter, helped with the annual Krop Kakor supper each October, helped deliver food to the food shelf and attended Ladies’ Aid. When she was no longer able to drive, her church circle met each month in the Ecumen community room, so she could continue to attend. Family was also very important to Jackie. Though she was in the hospital over Christmas, she was able to celebrate with Lynette, Kai, Emmarie and Jameson on the Saturday before her passing.

Jackie is survived by her two sons, Lance (Chia Lee) and Lorne (Jayne), her daughter Lynette, grandsons Kai, Cy (Stephanie Cerda), Corbin and Trenton, step-granddaughter Megan Simmons, great-granddaughter Emmarie and great-grandson Jameson. She is also survived by her sister Clarice Johnson of Minneapolis, brothers Del Johnson of North Branch and Michael (“Gust”) Johnson of Minneapolis, several cousins and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul, parents Clarence and Dorothy Johnson and sister Marlayne Domyahn.

The family would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to the many health caregivers that Jackie has had, especially the staff of St. Croix Hospice and Ecumen North Branch. We truly appreciate your compassion and support. Memorials are preferred to Spring Lake Lutheran Church or the North Branch Food Shelf.

Memorial Service 11AM, Monday, January 27, 2025 at Spring Lake Lutheran Church.  Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment in the church cemetery.

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