Ruth Johnson

Ruth Johnson (nee Stagg), age 84, of Packanack lake in Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday October 12, 2019 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Ruth was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY and was one of eight children to Edward and Edith Stagg. She was an amazing ballet dancer and loved to perform on stage. During high school, Ruth worked several jobs.  She taught Ballet and worked part time as a baby sitter.  After graduating from Niagara Falls High School with the class of 1953, Ruth became a secretary.  She did this for some time and while working at Bechtel Corporation in 1962 she met a wonderful and handsome man by the name of Russell Johnson.  They dated for almost four years and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on November 25, 1966 at Packanack Lake Community Church in Wayne.

After getting married in 1966, Ruth dedicated herself to becoming a full time homemaker.  Russell had three children of his own already from his previous marriage, two of which were already grown and an eleven year old son Russ, whom Ruth helped raise.  The couple were not married long when in 1968, Russell and Ruth welcomed their first and only child together, their daughter Karen.  The couple settled in the Packanack section of Wayne and remained there for the rest of their lives together.  Russell and Ruth cherished forty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together until Russell’s passing in 2010.  

Ruth enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher at Packanack Lake Community Church as well as helping out at Jacksonville Chapel in Lincoln Park, teaching Vacation Bible School.  She was an avid tennis player at Packanack Tennis Club where she was also the captain of her tennis team.  In her spare time she enjoyed water skiing, spending time at Packanack Lake and vacationing with her family at Wildwood Crest.  She was an amazing cook, creating a variety of outstanding homemade recipes.  Aside from all of Ruth’s hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing meant more to Ruth than spending time with her grandchildren.  She was known as Nannie to her grandchildren and loved them with all her heart.  Ruth was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by her family and friends alike.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Karen Lepri and her husband Pat of Wayne, her daughter Lynne Schapeler and her husband Stan of Plano, TX, her daughter Lauren Dragnett of Hackettstown, and her son Russ Johnson of Clifton, her grandchildren; Nicholas  Lepri, Gianna Lepri, Patrick Lepri, Brett Schapeler, Brian Schapeler, and Kelly Chase, her great grandchildren; Brenden Schapeler, and Hanna Schapeler.  She was predeceased by her husband Russell Johnson in 2010, as well as her brothers and sisters Edward Stagg, Earl Stagg, George Stagg, and Lawrence Stagg, Edith Roeder, Betty DeMers, and Virginia Cosentino.   She was also predeceased by her grandson David Chase and her son in law Gene Dragnett.

Memorial donations may be made in Ruth’s name to the Packanack Volunteer Fire Company No. 5, Five Lake Drive West, Wayne, NJ 07470.