Katherine Louise Karlovic Johnson

Katherine Louise Karlovic Johnson passed away on November 9, 2022. She was born on June 20, 1934, at Davis Hospital in Pine Bluff, Ark.,to Nettie Johanna Peterson Karlovic and Martin Karlovic. Katherine grew up on a farm in Woodlawn, Ark. Her father bought land there after immigrating from Austria (present day Croatia) to America and marrying a young woman from Denmark, Wisconsin, the daughter of Scandinavian immigrants. Katherine graduated from Woodlawn High School and Arkansas A&M College, now the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She was selected as College Beauty at A&M and was described by those who knew her as everyone's best friend. She liked to say she had the "gift of gab." She was warm, approachable, and talkative, and had an extraordinary ability to make others feel comfortable. After graduating from college with a teaching degree, Katherine taught school at Woodlawn High School. She married fellow Arkansas A&M classmate James Leonard Johnson, Jr. of Warren, Ark., in 1956 and they moved to St Louis, Mo. They soon settled in Pine Bluff to be closer to family and raise three children, two girls and a boy. In Pine Bluff, Katherine taught history and social studies at the Annunciation Academy, Dial Junior High School, and Jack Robey Middle School, serving as an educator for over 40 years. Many of her students fondly remember Mrs. Johnson as their favorite teacher. She raised three children and loved them unconditionally. She was involved in their extracurricular activities including coaching The Real Things softball team, running the snack bar at Ed Brown and Taylor Fields, and watching numerous dance recitals, tennis matches, and golf tournaments, as well as basketball, baseball, and football games. Katherine was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pine Bluff. She made many close friends in Pine Bluff that remained dear friends until her death, including JoAnn Knight, Marilyn Roberts, Carolyn Findley, and Rachel Lawson. In 1995, Katherine moved to Little Rock to greet the arrival of her first grandchild. She announced, "You're going to need some help with that baby," and she was right. She soon became known as "Nanny." For the past 27 years, she has loved every minute of being a devoted grandmother to her four precious grandchildren, who in turn loved her beyond measure. Nanny participated in every significant moment in her grandchildren's lives, bursting with pride each step of the way. Katherine was an avid gardener and took great pleasure in caring for her beautiful yard in Cammack Village. When she was healthy, she spent long hours digging and planting and fertilizing all kinds of flowering plants and shrubs. She loved the bright colors of her garden and frequently bestowed fresh-cut bouquets to neighbors and family. She also loved feeding the birds and deer that frequented the woods behind her house. Katherine never met a stranger. She was a model of servanthood, always putting others' needs and interests before her own. She was cheerful and delighted in the simple things in life including her small, close-knit Cammack Village neighborhood, her Pine Bluff friends, her garden, her church, and, above everything, her family. Katherine is preceded in death by her mother and father; her sister, Helen Miriam Karlovic of Little Rock; and her brother, Martin John Karlovic of Novato, Calif. She is survived by two daughters, Karla Anne Johnson and Stacy Lynne Johnson Hurst (Howard); and a son, Jay Michael Johnson (Elizabeth); four grandchildren, Conley Hurst, Josie Hurst, Win Johnson, and Kate Johnson; a sister-in-law, Sandra Karlovic; a nephew, Stephen Karlovic (Tami); and two nieces, Karen Karlovic and Kathy Ruimmerman (Alex). A private funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. A drop-in reception to celebrate Katherine's life will be held on Monday, November 14, from 4-6 p.m. at the Cammack Village City Hall, 2710 N. McKinley St. Memorial contributions to benefit Baker Park may be made to the City Parks Conservancy at www.cityparksconservancy.org. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com