Judith Ann “Johnnie” Martin Chaplinski, 81, of Middle River, MN passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus, in Rochester, MN surrounded by her loving family.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Middle River.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 17, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Middle River, MN with Father George Noel presiding. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery following the service.
Judith Ann Johnson was born on February 28, 1942, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Donald and Eleanor (Grant) Johnson. A beautiful young woman, she worked briefly as a model and was the “Honeywell Girl” in the company’s advertisements before marrying Clyde “Martey” Martin in 1962. After the birth of their daughter Thene, Johnnie spent several years working as a legal secretary for State Senator Jerome V. Blatz before joining Rebers Construction in St. Louis Park, MN. Through Sid Rebers, Johnnie and Martey were introduced to the bounty and beauty of Middle River and following Martey’s death in 1982, Johnnie was drawn to its peaceful, welcoming community and left the big city for life on the farm.
In 1994, Johnnie married Albin “Cougar” Chaplinski. Johnnie wholeheartedly embraced farming and for many years worked as a surveyor for the Department of Agriculture in addition to managing the farm’s day-to-day business operations. Johnnie and Albin loved to host friends and family during hunting season and enjoyed many road trips and cruises with friends and neighbors during the winter.
Johnnie was a member of the Middle River Legion Auxiliary and served on the Middle River Women of Today.
She was preceded in death by her father, Donald; mother, Eleanor; stepfather John Chase; brother Donald Johnson; sister, Kathleen Chase; former husband Martey; and husband Albin.
Johnnie is survived and will be forever missed by her daughter Thene Martin (George Mernick), Sandy Spring, MD; stepchildren, Janie Chaplinski Brandon (Brian Bolduc), Middle River, John (Michelle) Chaplinski, Middle River, Joe (Brenda) Chaplinski, Middle River, Jodi (Chris) Beeson, Scottsdale, AZ, and Jason Chaplinski, Gilbert, AZ; sister Mary (Michael) Sloper, Alexandria, VA; grandchildren Kevin, Elaine, Carolyn, Kelsey, Jordan, Payton, Annabelle, Michael (Chaplinski) and Michael (Miller); numerous nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends and neighbors.
