Marguerite Louise Johnson, age 92, of New York City, New York, and Luck, Wisconsin, passed away on March 25, 2026, in New York City after a three year battle with cancer. She was born at home in Bone Lake Township, Wisconsin, to Leonard and Helga Johnson on Jan. 20, 1934, and grew up on the family dairy farm in Bone Lake. She graduated from Luck High School in 1951. She entered Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, and received an AA degree in 1953 and then continued her education at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1955. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University, New York City, in 1963.
She began her journalism career at Northrup King Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, editing commercial materials for publication. In 1962 she was hired by Time Magazine as a typist. This was the beginning of a nearly 30 year career with Time, where she advanced through various departments and was promoted to associate editor in 1977. She contributed stories to the ART Section prior to moving to the WORLD Section of the magazine. Prior to her retirement in 1993, she was credited with writing about 30 cover stories of Time Magazine.
Consistent with her writing, she traveled in Europe and Asia to lend her experiences to the topics she was covering. She wrote often about India and was invited to meet Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1989 she received a letter of invitation to meet the Dalai Lama after a cover story she wrote about him. She loved to tell about her experiences traveling. One such trip was particularly outstanding and unique for a single woman during that period of time—a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia, covering nearly 5,000 miles.
She was a strong proponent of women’s rights and was fond of telling the story how she was among the first generation of career women in those years to “break the glass ceiling” as they sought to be hired into jobs in the publishing business that historically were held by men. Marguerite was an avid reader from an early age and acquired several volumes of the classics over the years.
In the years since her retirement, she enjoyed spending her summers on the family farm in Bone Lake caring for her peonies and other flower varieties and her beloved dog, Sasha.
Marguerite is survived by brothers, Larry (Jan) Johnson of Mount Airy, Maryland, and David (Kerry) Johnson of Luck; and many nieces and nephews.
Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Helga (Gregersen) Johnson; brothers and their wives, Rodney (Claralyn) Johnson and Malcolm (Corabelle) Johnson; and niece, Deborah Holzhey.
Interment of her remains was made in the family plot at Zion Lutheran Cemetery on June 5, 2026, the 45th anniversary of her father’s death. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444.
