Martha Johnson, the first lady of Badger hockey and wife of "Badger Bob," dies at 88

MADISON – Mark Johnson didn’t have any elaborate plans to celebrate after winning his seventh national championship as coach of the Wisconsin women’s hockey team.

He just wanted to visit his mom.

“I’m going to grab the trophy tomorrow and I’m taking it over to sit down with my mom and get a picture with my mom,” Johnson said after UW’s 1-0 victory over Ohio State in the national championship game in March. “She’s not doing real well, so it’s something I’ll be able to have with me for a long period of time because she was a big part of my dad and coaching and a big part of the Badger legacy with her cowbell at the Coliseum. A lot of people still talk about that.”

Martha Johnson, the widow of legendary Badger men’s hockey coach Bob Johnson and the mother of Mark and four other children, died on May 16. She was 88.

Martha and Bob Johnson were married for 37 years before Bob passed away in 1991. During Bob’s 15 seasons at Wisconsin, Martha was fondly known as the first lady of Badger hockey and was credited with being a force when it came to building a community of hockey supporters in Madison.

Her obituary notes that after the passing of her husband she lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., Scottsdale, Ariz., and San Diego before spending the last six years in Madison.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Blackhawk Church in Fitchburg on June 5 at noon. A visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Community Living Connections, Inc., 6515 Watts Rd. Suite 200, Madison, WI, 53719; Agape Ranch, 7978 Coray Lane, Verona, WI, 53593; or Bob Johnson Hockey School, 321 East Lionshead Circle, Vail, CO 81657.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Martha Johnson, the first lady of Wisconsin hockey, dies at 88