Kari Lea Martin Johnson

Kari Lea Martin Johnson joined her savior, Jesus Christ, on April 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a one-year battle with cancer. Her loving family was by her side.

Kari was born in Sidney, Montana on July 8, 1955 to Agnes and Frank E. Martin. At the age of five, Kari’s family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where Kari lived through high school years.

In 1975, Kari’s sense of adventure led her north to Alaska, where she met the love of her life, Paul C. Johnson. Paul and Kari were married in 1980, and settled in Wasilla, Alaska, in a custom home designed and built by the loving couple.

Kari was employed by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) as CFO for 20 years. She was an avid volunteer for kids programs, serving on the board of Trick-or-Treat Town and the Imaginarium. Kari’s first joy and passion was for her family and her many friends. Her six grandchildren have many happy memories of holidays spent at Grandpa Paul and Nana’s. At soccer games, birthday parties, Garden Club, fishing expeditions, garage sales and the Alaska State Fair, Kari enthusiastically demonstrated her limitless love for family, friends and community. Eventually, Paul and Kari built a second home in Las Vegas so they could spend winter months near Kari’s Las Vegas family.

After 26 years of marriage, Paul passed away of renal cancer in 2006. For a few years, Kari split her time between Alaska and Nevada. Eventually she moved back home to Nevada full-time, treasuring her time with her Las Vegas family while welcoming visits from her Alaska friends and family. Kari’s family in Nevada and Alaska take solace in the knowledge that she is now, truly, home.

Kari Lea was preceded in death by husband Paul C. Johnson of Wasilla, Alaska; and her mother and father, Agnes and Frank E. Martin of Las Vegas. She is survived by brothers, Frank Martin (Bonnie), Bill Martin (Linda), Tim Martin (Crystal), all of Las Vegas, and John Martin and wife Rhonda of Washoe Valley, Nevada. Kari is also survived by Kathrin and Jim Pereira, and Matt and Maureen Johnson; grandkids Mackenzie and Madelyn Himmelwright, Milo Anderson of Seattle, and Michael, Elizabeth, and Julia Johnson, all of Alaska.

A celebration of life will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at Lake Lucille Best Western Inn, located at 1300 Lake Lucille Drive in Wasilla.