Sarah R. Johnson

POLO – With great sadness, the family of Sarah Rose “Smiley” Johnson announce her passing, along with her son, Oliver Daniel Michael Johnson.

Sarah Johnson, 26, of Polo died pregnant with her baby boy, in a tragic car accident on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, only a few miles from her home.

Surviving the accident are her husband, Daryl Allan Johnson, 27, and daughter, Kylia Olivia Ann Johnson, 4. Daryl and Kylia were transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital with injuries from the accident to recover surrounded by their loving family and friends.

Sarah was born Feb. 13, 1991, in Downers Grove. Sarah grew up in Lanark with her five siblings, 35 first cousins, and many friends. Her days were filled with incredible people making memories, working hard, and living her life with smiles and laughter. Sarah made big holidays and celebrations with family and friends extraordinary with her happiness and special planning and documented family outings with pictures. She made every day something to look forward to for everyone she knew.

It was on the conveyor belts of Rolling Hills Progress Center where she met her true love and their high school romance started. Sarah graduated from Eastland High School in 2009 and then attended college at Northern Illinois University. In 2010, she married the love of her life, Daryl “DJ” on Dec. 4. They moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, shortly after, where DJ started his military career, and Sarah worked at the Army and Air Force Exchange Services as manager of hard lines and sporting goods.

Their daughter, Kylia, was born on July 19, 2013, in Alaska. They moved back to Illinois in 2013, and started working right away to build their beautiful family life. They made a home in Polo, worked, and got involved in their community and church.

Sarah was an assistant manager at Walmart in Freeport. DJ works at Exelon in Byron, volunteers at Polo Fire Department, and is in the U.S. Army Reserve. Sarah had a busy schedule, but she made sure to share a smile, sarcastic remark, or made time for those she was close to daily.

By far her favorite pastime was spending quality time with her husband, daughter, family, and friends.

Sarah and Oliver Johnson are survived by her parents, Mike and Gayle Hall of Shannon; brother, godfather Eric (Jackie, Chloe Higgs, Madeline) Sundquist of Winnebago; brother, Bryan Sundquist of Chicago; sister, Jennifer (Austin, Audrey) Sundquist of Freeport; sister, Kati (Robby, Charlie, Ellery, Berkeley, Magnolia) Shaw of Vesper, Wisconsin; sister, Kaye (Jonathan, Emmalyn (Goddaughter), Vanessa) Nichols of Wahiawa, Hawaii; sister, Leah (Nicholas, Mosheh) Balabuszko of Wonewoc, Wisconsin; and brother, Carl (Sarah) Sundquist of Lanark.

Sarah’s cousins who filled her memories, vacations, and family holidays include: Jessica and Kelly Campbell, Marilyn Hammer, Connie and Calvin Cassens, Jeffery Hammer, Matt and Robin Hammer, Derek Hammer, Sean Hammer, William and Stephanie Hammer, Devon Bormann, Brendon Bormann, Joseph and Teresa Hammer, Leslie and Timothy Wenzel, Mitchell and Charity Hammer, Jami Hammer, BilliJo and Kenneth Myers, Walker Hammer, Wyatt Hammer, Jack Hammer, Patrick and Jenntry Dapkus, Stephen Dapkus, Morgan Monigold, Danielle Monigold, Phil and Valentina Koehlinger, Amy Koehlinger, Daniel McSweeney, Michael McSweeney, Mark McSweeney, David and Heather Skerik, Marilyn and Seth Bush, Roberta Skerik-Jimenez, Todd Goranson, Scott Goranson, Erin Shulfer, Megan Mendyk, John Mendyk, Caitlin Szczyptka, Jenna Szczypta, Cassie Ameiss, and Anna Ameiss.

Surviving in-laws include Daniel and Sonia Johnson, (Lily) of Milledgeville; Jeremiah and Kim Johnson (Jenadette, Cayden, Sage) of Austin, Texas; Jason and Angie Johnson (Blake, Bryce) of Rock Falls; Nathan and Katie Johnson (Everleigh) of McComb; Ashley and Brett Kreiser (Morgan, Addy) of Amboy; Britt and Chance Fontenot of Dixon; Christie and Kevin Sodaro of Sterling; Daniel Johnson of Milledgeville, Devin Johnson of Milledgeville; and Mason of Milledgeville, and cousins.

Sarah and Oliver were preceded by her grandparents, William and Marilyn Hammer of Shannon; uncle, Jeffery Hammer of Shannon and cousin, Tommy Dapkus; and Grandma Mary Ann Hall of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Discovery Church in Polo. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Crossroads Community Church in Polo, followed by burial at Fairmount Cemetery 1533 state Route 26 South, Polo. All are welcome to attend a luncheon at the Crossroads after the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in honor of Sarah and Oliver Johnson.

Sarah and Oliver will be lovingly remembered by all.

Polo Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements.