Gladys "Madeline" May Johnson
April 15th, 2020
On Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 Madeline Johnson had her best celebration yet as she entered glory to be with the Lord and join that great cloud of witnesses. She was 80 years old. She lived with energy and purpose and did not fear death as she looked forward to seeing her Saviour. Her life was marked by service in creatively sharing the love of Jesus and by a deep gratitude.
Gladys Madeline May was born on November 29, 1939 to Rev. & Mrs. R.J. White, completing the family with older brothers Gordon and Samuel. Her parents were serving as Pentecostal pioneer preachers in Merritt B.C. The family moved and ministered to communities where needed: Vernon, BC in 1942, Hughenden AB in 1949, Claresholm, AB and then Newbrook, AB in 1956. At Newbrook, Madeline caught the eye of her eventual life mate (Mel Johnson), and after gaining credentials at the University of Alberta, she returned to Newbrook to teach school.
Mel and Madeline were married August 20, 1960 and moved to Swan Hills, AB, to pioneer a church for the new oil town. Barry Mark and Auralee Esther were born during their six years there. Churchbridge, SK became home for the next 12 years as they enjoyed life in the church and wider community. Kelly Paul was born in 1967 and later that year Auralee tragically passed away. David Jae was born in 1969. The family moved to Paradise Valley, Alberta in 1978 to take on what would be Mel and Madeline’s final pastorate. With church sponsorship, the community welcomed two families from the Vietnamese refugee boat crisis. When the church needed to expand onto parsonage grounds, Madeline took the opportunity to design their first home on an acreage outside of town.
An offer for Mel from World Vision drew the family to Calgary in 1984. As always, Madeline continued to be a key supporter in Mel’s work but she also trained as a Power Engineer and was hired by SAIT after her graduation. Madeline’s keen interest in helping new Canadians led her to set up Agape Language School. With this experience, she founded Cooperative ESL Ministries to support churches in mobilizing, training and equipping volunteers to do what Jesus asked: love our neighbour in practical ways. In this case it was assisting new Canadians with acculturation and English language acquisition through both formal and informal avenues. She was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal by Prime Minister Harper in 2012.
Mel and Madeline progressed into semi-retirement by building a cabin at Sunnyside Retreat Centre in Sylvan Lake, AB and moving there in 2013. This was a special place where her parents had moved a summer cabin 70 years before. Her prayer was that this camp setting would continue to be a place where people experience God in ways that lead to personal and societal transformation. Madeline requested that if any donations were made at her passing, that they could be directed to either eslcooperative.ca or sunnysidecamp.org - which is no surprise given her heart for lasting and meaningful change!
Madeline touched innumerable lives in significant ways and we give thanks for the way she lived with such grace. Her devoted husband, Mel, and her three boys and their families feel the loss of her earthly presence. Barry and Jessie (Connor, Keenan and Nicole), Kelly and Barb (Erica, Aimee, Logan and Courtney), David and Natalie (Nathanael and Owen) hope that our lives can carry on her legacy of faith and love in action.
Messages:
I am so sad for your loss. We are praying for all the family She was an amazing warrior of the Lord! I met her before I got to know her sons, Kelly and Barry, and was so impressed with her energy, her love for others and her passion and drive for others. It was my honour to have known her and it is my honour to know her children and grandchildren. What a legacy! What an inspiring life and what an inspiring woman of God!
I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have met and worked beside Madeline. Even in the short time I got to know her, she inspires me everyday with her unwavering strength, generosity and love for our global community.
My heart is heavy for your loss , and I pray for God’s comfort and pease to be with your family at this time . I know Madeline is in such a better place. She was such a gentle , caring person . God Bless you all in the precious name of Jesus. All my love Barbara Ferguson
Our condolences to Mel and the family. We knew Madeleine from our service with her on the Canadian Bible Society Greater Alberta District board of directors. She was a wonderful representative of the Lord Jesus and served Him mightily. She was a true servant giving of her heart and her talents to serve people across Calgary and Southern Alberta. She is in a better place now. Praise God for her life and her eternal life.
What an incredible life to have led and legacy to leave behind.
When I think of Madeline I think of a very gracious lady. Our lives were enriched just knowing her. My thought also went to her little girl that she would see again. Many condolences to each family member, and toMel who lost his life partner. My prayers are with you.
Madeline was a wonderful woman who took a young, insecure teenager under her wing and encouraged me to pursue TESOL training. Because of her I travelled to China to teach English for a summer, ended up getting my TESOL certificate and taught overseas for a number of years. She literally impacted the course of my life and I am very grateful for her godly influence on me. She was truly an inspiration to me and many others and I am so thankful to have known her. She modelled what a strong, faithful woman of God looks like.
To Mel and all the Johnson Family, I had the privilege of meeting Madeline, Mel and the boys the summer of 1992 when I interned at their church in Calgary. She always display a peaceful, joyful, and welcoming disposition. Her love for the Lord, her family, and people in general were undeniable. She was always an encouragement me me, as has been the rest of the family. In her passing, I recall the saying from heaven recorded by St. John, "blessed are they who die in the Lord." May God comfort you all with his sustaining presence. Love to all the family.
Our sincere sympathy as you grieve the loss of your wife, mother, grandmother and friend. We are praying for you during this time of so many emotions because our HOPE is in the Resurrection! We will never forgot Madeline’s generous smile and her kind spirit. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Shalom peace and comfort to you all.
My deepest sympathies to Mel and his family in the passing of Madeline from life on earth in her "temporal tent" as Paul puts it of 80 years into her eternal glorious body in heaven that will never be corrupted by sickness, or pain!! Madeline was an inspiration to us all through the years, ever learning, insightful, fellow gardener at Sunnyside Christian Retreat Centre by beautifying her home with flowers and shrubs every year!! As fellow gardeners at Sunnyside, I can't imagine the beauty she is beholding in THE GARDENS of heaven!! Most of all gazing upon the beauty and splendour of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! May PEACE, COMFORT and HOPE fill your hearts Mel and Family knowing you WILL SEE HER AGAIN at the glorious Family Reunion when Christ returns for all of us as his BRIDE! "Until then our hearts will go on singing...."
Thinking of you all, Madelyn truly was a lady of God. She always shared her faith and some of the people we have met over the years thought so highly of her. She will be missed and we will be thinking of you Mel, and your family as you navigate this world without that lovely lady. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
My condolences for the 'hole' left in your lives with Madeleine's graduation to the Lord. The Johnson family was so warm and inviting. The few visits I had tea or a meal with the family, Madeleine accepted me as family. I was always so grateful for the love. Blessings and hugs.
My sincere condolences to Madeleines family. As a teenager she was a godly role model for me as our pastors wife. She was truly loved and respected. When I heard she was so sick my mind immediately went to her little girl waiting for her mommy to join her in heaven. Prayed for Pastor Mel and all his family as they journey on.
In memory of the loving Madeline, I have donated to the beautiful Sunnyside Camp in her spirit. She will always be in my heart. Zack