POSTED:  Wednesday, September 26, 2017

HOKAH -- Debra Kay Johnston, 56, of Hokah passed away Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, at the Mayo Health System in La Crosse.

She was born Feb. 1, 1961, in La Crosse to Franklin and Phyllis (Bakken) Hammes and graduated from La Crosse Central High School.

On Sept. 29, 1979, she married Larry Johnston at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse. Debra had worked at the La Crosse Rubber Mills and Century Link until retiring due to ill health in 2011. She enjoyed reading, trips to the casino, walks with her dog, Jordy and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Larry, she is survived by a daughter, Emily Johnston of Hokah; two sons, Sam (Bethany) Johnston of La Crosse and Joe (Dana) Johnston of Holmen; five grandchildren, Keegan, Wyatt, Nolan, Franklin and Lexi; four sisters, Carol Hammes of Holmen, Cindy Stellflug of Onalaska, Joanne Sutherland of California and Maribeth Breidel of Hokah; a brother, Michael Hammes of Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah with the Rev. Pratap Reddy Salibindla officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Hokah. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crescent is assisting the family. Online guestbook is available at www.schumacher-kish.com.