Obituary of Winifred Ellen Deimel Johnsen

Winnie was born in San Francisco to Philip and Winifred Deimel on December 31st, 1940 and peacefully passed away on April 30th, 2023. She grew up in Hillsborough and graduated from Burlingame High School. She went to college at UC-Berkeley and then graduated from San Jose State University in 1970 with a degree in Liberal Arts. Winnie married Dean Johnsen and had four children (Tony, Amber, Michelle, and Jody). While raising her children in Livermore, Winnie was an elementary school teacher. The family then relocated to Santa Cruz County in the 70’s where she became a successful real estate agent for over 40 years before retiring in 2019. She touched many lives and made numerous lifelong friends helping clients find the house of their dreams. More than anything, Winnie loved tennis. She played for Seascape Sports Club on the Monterey Interclub “A” League every Monday for over 30 years. She was an amazing partner, captain and player always doing what was best for the team, with the most important thing being to have fun and a great lunch afterwards. She also loved to watch tennis which was a great comfort to her recently when she could no longer play herself. Winnie loved to garden and planted flowers at the tennis club each year, always giving her own touch to help make the grounds beautiful. Winnie loved music and learned to play the piano very young sitting beside her grandmother. She became a classical concert pianist and even in her seventies took piano classes at Cabrillo and performed in recitals. She loved to listen to Beethoven while driving in her red jeep with her WinniePu license plate. Winnie was an avid traveler. She visited Europe, Africa, Peru, the British Virgin Islands, Vietnam, Iceland, Alaska and Hawaii to name a few of her favorite destinations. Winnie loved to go to the beach to lay in the sun, walk, swim and boogie board. The thing that Winnie will be remembered the most for was being such a wonderful mother, grandmother and caring friend. She loved to entertain always making sure people knew there was a place at her table for Thanksgiving or any other holiday or event. She always made your birthday special by singing Happy Birthday to you on her ukulele. She loved tradition, hiding Sees chocolate eggs at Easter and summer trips to Tahoe with her children and grandchildren as she did with her family growing up. Winnie was a true treasure that impacted everyone she met with her welcoming demeanor. An icon, a beautiful, talented intelligent, businesswoman, an athlete and caring fun mom. She will always be someone that could be looked up to and counted on to be there for everyone and everything. There are no words to express how much Winnie will be missed. She will live forever in our hearts. Winnie is survived by her children Tony and (Rin) Johnsen, Amber Johnsen, Michelle and (Robert) Brooks and Jody and (Greg) Muller. And her grandchildren, Erica and (Alex) Jones, Stephanie Johnsen, James and (Sydney) Migues, Sarah and (Jesse) Holcomb, Ryan Johnsen, Austin and (Mia) Muller and Natalie Muller. And her great grandchildren Wyatt Holcomb, Maximillian Jones, Victoria Jones and Waylon Holcomb. Winnie is also survived by her sisters Adele Nickison and Genie (or Virginia) Gallagher, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. The Celebration of Life for Winnie will be on July 1, 2023, at the Sesnon House at Cabrillo College, Aptos, California at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.