Autumn Marie Johnson

On December 5, 2021, at the age of 21, Autumn Johnson died while rushing to help total strangers in their time of crisis.

She was born November 21, 2000, at Samaritan Hospital in Watertown, New York - the daughter of Michael and Darlene (Sabatino) Johnson.

From the time she was a toddler Autumn knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. She spent the next 18 years of her life in preparation for it. She always went above and beyond in school and her teachers would often express to us that they wished they could clone her, as they felt she was the perfect student. As she grew, her passion for the field of Veterinary Medicine also grew.

She attended Wasilla High School and in her junior and senior year, attended the MatSu Middle College where she not only excelled academically, but graduated Summa cum laude earning her Associates Degree one week before she graduated high school.

She continued her undergraduate program at Kansas State University and was accepted into the Kansas State School of Veterinary Medicine this past spring. All the many years of hard work paid off. She began her first year of graduate studies this past fall. Though she would often tell us how challenging the program was, she loved what she was doing. She loved going to class and learning as much as she could – you know, for the animals she would one day care for.

During school breaks she would work for Dr. Sean McPeck at Tier 1 Veterinary Medical Center. She loved working there with her Tier 1 family and learned so many skills. She had a driven, unquenchable thirst for learning anything she could in that clinic.

On the rare occasion she was not studying or working, Autumn cherished the outdoors. She loved to shoot her bow with her dad in their backyard. One of her all-time favorite things to do was to hike with her dad and her brothers, and to go shooting. They also took numerous camping trips in the Alaskan backcountry.

Autumn was pro first and second amendment. She was an all American girl. She carried American pride in almost everything she did; from the American flag on the front of her jeep, to her artwork of painting the American flag on her jeans, purse and just about anything else she could put it on.

She was a quiet soul. To ground herself during stressful times in her life she would show her artistic side and paint beautiful works of art that we will cherish forever. She never bought a greeting card; every card she gave, she made by hand with the love of the intended guiding her hand.

She had an old jeep wrangler, a 1999, in fact and it had her personality all over it. From the American flag she so painstakingly painted on the front grille to the military 3% emblem on her hood that she created with her cricut; the jeep spoke Autumn.

Autumn was an inspiration to us all. She pushed everyone to show their potential and would cheer us along the way. She encouraged her father to write and others to show compassion towards animals.

There are many fond memories made over 21 years; like Goat-Rope. While goat hunting with her dad and brother they hiked so far out that they didn't know what they'd do if they did actually get a goat. They realized they'd have to carry it back all the way out so they thought that if they could just put a rope around the goat's neck, they could just have the goat walk back down the hillside to the car with them. Then there was the infamous Lawhawk call! And of course, the school bus slug game -which produced many a bruised shoulder!

Alex shares specials memories of the hidden $20.00 bill; Brendan shares the 'Creek Squad' memory of riding bikes and floating down in tubes in the creek behind the family house. Or the memories that both brothers share of the crossing the Mississippi River (or is it?), the zip line in the backyard and the 'haunted trail' behind their neighborhood. Their favorite memory however, was their sibling trip to North Carolina with Autumn and Orion.

Orion treasures the love they had for one another. He also holds close their special handshake every time they would part from one another.

Grandma Louise shares her memories of the care boxes she sent to Autumn and the wonderful phone calls she would receive after sending each box.

Grandma Joyce fondly recalls the beautiful hand made cards, so carefully and thoughtfully made for her and Autumn's infectious giggle.

Mom and Dad will never forget their beautiful little girl – so very talented and natural. Her selfless loving nature, always there to give us a hug and say "I Love You" – whether in person or virtually. Though separated by many miles, we never felt far from her. We spoke and face-timed several times per day and texted in between those. Mom and daughter shared a close bond – one that transcends time, distance and death. Mom will always remember Autumn telling her every time they spoke how Amazing & Beautiful she was. She always felt that her dad was her hero. What she didn't realize what that she was their hero. Dad and Autumn shared so many things together but it is the little things he cherished the most – The incredibly funny nightly memes they shared before bedtime or the times she would tirelessly pick weeds and rocks outside in our yard with him – just to be together – daddy's little girl.

All of these are a glimpse of the many memories we hold and cherish with Autumn from the time she was born. The 21st "Golden Birthday" celebratory clinking of glasses over the phone will remain close in our hearts.

Autumn was a go getting soft tendered soul, a best friend, sister, granddaughter, and daughter. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her kind hearted spirit will not be forgotten. It will remain in every American flag that flies and every act of kindness shared with both people and animals.

Survivors include her parents, Mike and Darlene; brothers, Alexander Johnson and Brendan Johnson; Fiancé, Orion Maltby, maternal grandma, Joyce Sabatino; paternal grandma, Louise Johnson; paternal grandpa , Ernest (Sheila) Johnson; aunt, Mitzi (Jim) White; uncle, Ron (Sabre) Sabatino; aunt, Kathy (Derry) Loftus; uncle Scott Johnson; cousins, Noah, Zachary, and Taylor; great-aunts, Jackie Whitley, Sue Rodrigue, and Terry (Jimmy) Zagryn; great-uncles, Dennis (Kathy) Rodrigue, Don (Linda) Rodrigue; best friends, Morelle Kinney and Destiny (Eric) Serrano and her beloved dogs, German Shepard, Kaya "Girly Bird" and Chihuahua, Jasper (the bug) and last but not least, her cherished stuffed cheetah from her first birthday, Kitty".

She was preceded in death by her maternal Great-grandparents, Helen (Jack) McGinnis and paternal great-grandparents, Gerard (Rita) Rodrigue and her dogs, Happy Jack "Hampster", Parker "The Bug", and German Shepard, Tara.

Services: A celebration of life will be held at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla on Tuesday December 21st from 5:00-7:00pm (1015 S Check St, Wasilla). A mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla on Wednesday, December 22nd at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that if you wish to honor Autumn's memory to please donate to her Go Fund Me Account. This account was created with the intentions of beginning a scholarship award for young Veterinary medicine students. Autumn also expressed to us many times that it was very sad when a pet could not receive a procedure due to financial hardship. We would like to somehow offer a bit of financial assistance to help a pet whose owner would otherwise not be able to afford care. Helping others, especially animals; that was Autumn. The Good Samaritan.

Please copy and paste the link below in your URL below into your web browser:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/u8rxvj-autumn-johnson?member=15832761&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer