Johanna Broeker Garner

Johanna Broeker Garner, aged 66, passed away July 17th 2020, at Methodist University Hospital from complications related to cancer. Born in Bremen Germany, at age 5 she moved to Memphis where she attended St. Louis Catholic School, White Station High School and Christian Brothers University, followed by a 36-year long career at Fedex. She was active in her Catholic faith, attending St. Louis, Holy Spirit and most recently St. Michael parishes. In her free time, she gardened, knitted wraps for the cancer center, and was an avid reader. In the constant hope of helping others, she shared her cancer journey which began in 2009 by surviving breast cancer. In 2016, she was again challenged with a bladder cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, despite surgery in January 2020, the aggressive cancer took over. She is preceded in death by her parents, Werner and Renate Broeker, and brother Peter. She is survived by her husband Madison (Matt) and daughter Louisa Simmons (Zach), her sisters Beate Griffin (Bill), Martina Broeker (Chris Blainas) and Claudia Egger. She was a constant source of support and love to her extended family, including her father-in-law George Garner, Gaye Keller (John), Jan Tisdal (Paul), Chris (Glenda) Garner, and many nieces and nephews. She gave unconditional love and support. Her giving spirit and gentle soul were unmatched. In true Johanna style, she requested her body be donated fully to science research. Due to current times, a memorial gathering will be held at a later date. However, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made, in her memory, to St. Michael Church’s air conditioning/facilities fund (https://abundant.co/stmichaelmemphis/give) - her love of A/C was a close second to the love she felt for her family/ friends and, of course, chocolate.