Reverend Mark J. Johnston of Manitowoc was called home to his Savior’s side on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was 73 years old.
Mark was born to Reverend Robert and Esther (Bluemner) Johnston on March 16, 1952, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. On April 20, 1952, Mark was welcomed into God’s family through the waters of baptism at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Hamburg, Ontario. After the Johnston family moved first to Minnesota and then to Australia, the family relocated in Milwaukee (where both his parents were from). Mark was confirmed at St. Lucas Evangelical Lutheran Church on April 3, 1966.
He then attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, graduating in 1970. Having decided to become a pastor, Mark studied at Northwestern College in Watertown graduating in 1974 and continued to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon.
It was during this time that Mark met Jane Gurgel with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Mark and Jane were married at St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in Fond du Lac on July 5, 1975.
In 1978, he graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and was assigned to serve a congregation in Bowdle, South Dakota. Pastor Johnston dedicated the rest of his life to sharing the message of Christ crucified with people as their pastor. After his first call in South Dakota, Pastor Johnston was called to begin a congregation in Deltona, Florida. Later, he returned to Wisconsin to serve churches in Waunakee and Spooner.
From there, Pastor Johnston accepted a call to be a missionary in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa, fulfilling a long-time desire to serve as a foreign missionary on behalf of the Wisconsin Synod.
Upon his return to the United States, Pastor Johnston shepherded a congregation in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Although he attempted to retire back to Wisconsin, the Lord of the Church came calling again and Pastor Johnston joyfully accepted a call once more, this time to First German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manitowoc where he would serve his remaining days, preaching his last sermon on Easter Sunday, just five days prior to his departure to be with his resurrected Lord.
Pastor Mark Johnston is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jane, their five children: Rachel (David) Uhlhorn of Manitowoc, Missionary Andrew (Cynthia) Johnston of Doral, Florida, Anna (Reverend David) Meyer of South Milwaukee, Ruth (Noah) Mayer of Hartford, Rebekah (Jacob) Zietlow of Grafton, and 17 grandchildren: Joshua, Caleb, and Emily Uhlhorn; Aida, Sienna, Grady, Adelin, and Gabriel Johnston; Jonas, Catalina, and Wesley Meyer; McKenna, Mya, Olivia, and Wyatt Mayer; William and Theodore Zietlow. He is also survived by four siblings: Reverend Paul (Lynn) Johnston of New Berlin, Kathleen Hanson of Stillwater, MN, Peter (Kay Lynn) of Lecanto, Florida, Thomas (Lynn) of Benton Harbor, Michigan and by his sister-in-law Judy Johnston of Watertown as well as many other dear sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. His parents, Robert and Esther Johnston and his brother, Timothy, went to heaven before and certainly greeted him when he arrived.
A Christian funeral service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Manitowoc at First German Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1033 South 8th Street with Reverend Jacob Hoff officiating. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 9 am and continue until the time of service at 11 a.m. at the church with a luncheon to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, gifts to the glory of God and in memory of Mark can be directed to WELS World Missions or Manitowoc Lutheran High School.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory at North 11th and St. Clair streets in Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences to the family can be shared at www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com
