For years, Jenna Elizabeth Johnson made a name for herself on the soccer field.
From leading Lyons Township High School to the Illinois High School Association girls soccer state finals in 2000, to helping the Libertyville-based Eclipse Soccer Club capture numerous U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, she experienced what many athletes only dream about.
Ms. Johnson, who was preparing to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Thursday, died on Sunday in Los Angeles while training for a marathon to benefit AIDS research. The cause of death is still unknown.
"She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached," former Lyons Township girls soccer coach Andy Newcomb said. "I have never met a person in my life that was as self-confident as Jenna was."
During her four-year varsity career at Lyons Township, Ms. Johnson recorded 66 goals and 59 assists playing in the midfield. In 2000, she scored 26 goals and handed out 18 assists to help the Lions advance to the state finals.
"When Jenna started to crawl, I knew she was never looking back and that I was going to have my hands full," said her mother, Maryanne. "Everything was too slow for her, because she always wanted to approach things fast. Whether it was with school or other things, she wanted to learn and move on to do bigger and better things."
Ms. Johnson continued her soccer career at Miami (Fla.). She was recently named to the under-23 U.S. Women's National "B" Team.
"She never forgot about where she came from," said family friend, Alex Hernandez. "Jenna always came back to work at different soccer camps during the summer, and was really willing to do anything to help anyone."
After graduating from Miami in 2004 with a double major in Motion Pictures and English, Ms. Johnson moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a production assistant for the George Lopez Show last January.
"Jenna was a genuine person," said Rory Dames, who is the director of the Eclipse Soccer Club. "She kept talking about how she wanted to make a movie, and that was one reason why she decided to move out to Los Angeles."
According to her mother, Ms. Johnson wanted to make a movie that would make a difference in the world.
"Everything she did, she did it with a purpose," said her mother. "Jenna really looked at herself as an example. She not only wanted to make herself better, but she wanted to make the people around her better, too."
Recently, Ms. Johnson had teamed up with a co-worker to raise money for the AIDS marathon. The duo had hoped to raise $3,000 but ended up securing more than $6,000 in donations.
Besides for her mother, Ms. Johnson is survived by her father, Kurt, and a brother, Adam.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
Johnson, Jenna Elizabeth age 22, of Studio City, CA, formerly of Countryside, beloved daughter of Maryanne (nee Baloun) and Kurt, loving sister of Adam, cherished granddaughter of Billie and the late James Baloun and the late Gus and the late Dorothy Johnson, also survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., from the funeral home, to St. Cletus Church, LaGrange, Mass 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Info 708-352-6500.
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times from 12/25/2005 - 12/26/2005.
From leading Lyons Township High School to the Illinois High School Association girls soccer state finals in 2000, to helping the Libertyville-based Eclipse Soccer Club capture numerous U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, she experienced what many athletes only dream about.
Ms. Johnson, who was preparing to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Thursday, died on Sunday in Los Angeles while training for a marathon to benefit AIDS research. The cause of death is still unknown.
"She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached," former Lyons Township girls soccer coach Andy Newcomb said. "I have never met a person in my life that was as self-confident as Jenna was."
During her four-year varsity career at Lyons Township, Ms. Johnson recorded 66 goals and 59 assists playing in the midfield. In 2000, she scored 26 goals and handed out 18 assists to help the Lions advance to the state finals.
"When Jenna started to crawl, I knew she was never looking back and that I was going to have my hands full," said her mother, Maryanne. "Everything was too slow for her, because she always wanted to approach things fast. Whether it was with school or other things, she wanted to learn and move on to do bigger and better things."
Ms. Johnson continued her soccer career at Miami (Fla.). She was recently named to the under-23 U.S. Women's National "B" Team.
"She never forgot about where she came from," said family friend, Alex Hernandez. "Jenna always came back to work at different soccer camps during the summer, and was really willing to do anything to help anyone."
After graduating from Miami in 2004 with a double major in Motion Pictures and English, Ms. Johnson moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a production assistant for the George Lopez Show last January.
"Jenna was a genuine person," said Rory Dames, who is the director of the Eclipse Soccer Club. "She kept talking about how she wanted to make a movie, and that was one reason why she decided to move out to Los Angeles."
According to her mother, Ms. Johnson wanted to make a movie that would make a difference in the world.
"Everything she did, she did it with a purpose," said her mother. "Jenna really looked at herself as an example. She not only wanted to make herself better, but she wanted to make the people around her better, too."
Recently, Ms. Johnson had teamed up with a co-worker to raise money for the AIDS marathon. The duo had hoped to raise $3,000 but ended up securing more than $6,000 in donations.
Besides for her mother, Ms. Johnson is survived by her father, Kurt, and a brother, Adam.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
Johnson, Jenna Elizabeth age 22, of Studio City, CA, formerly of Countryside, beloved daughter of Maryanne (nee Baloun) and Kurt, loving sister of Adam, cherished granddaughter of Billie and the late James Baloun and the late Gus and the late Dorothy Johnson, also survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., from the funeral home, to St. Cletus Church, LaGrange, Mass 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Info 708-352-6500.
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times from 12/25/2005 - 12/26/2005.
For years, Jenna Elizabeth Johnson made a name for herself on the soccer field.
From leading Lyons Township High School to the Illinois High School Association girls soccer state finals in 2000, to helping the Libertyville-based Eclipse Soccer Club capture numerous U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, she experienced what many athletes only dream about.
Ms. Johnson, who was preparing to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Thursday, died on Sunday in Los Angeles while training for a marathon to benefit AIDS research. The cause of death is still unknown.
"She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached," former Lyons Township girls soccer coach Andy Newcomb said. "I have never met a person in my life that was as self-confident as Jenna was."
During her four-year varsity career at Lyons Township, Ms. Johnson recorded 66 goals and 59 assists playing in the midfield. In 2000, she scored 26 goals and handed out 18 assists to help the Lions advance to the state finals.
"When Jenna started to crawl, I knew she was never looking back and that I was going to have my hands full," said her mother, Maryanne. "Everything was too slow for her, because she always wanted to approach things fast. Whether it was with school or other things, she wanted to learn and move on to do bigger and better things."
Ms. Johnson continued her soccer career at Miami (Fla.). She was recently named to the under-23 U.S. Women's National "B" Team.
"She never forgot about where she came from," said family friend, Alex Hernandez. "Jenna always came back to work at different soccer camps during the summer, and was really willing to do anything to help anyone."
After graduating from Miami in 2004 with a double major in Motion Pictures and English, Ms. Johnson moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a production assistant for the George Lopez Show last January.
"Jenna was a genuine person," said Rory Dames, who is the director of the Eclipse Soccer Club. "She kept talking about how she wanted to make a movie, and that was one reason why she decided to move out to Los Angeles."
According to her mother, Ms. Johnson wanted to make a movie that would make a difference in the world.
"Everything she did, she did it with a purpose," said her mother. "Jenna really looked at herself as an example. She not only wanted to make herself better, but she wanted to make the people around her better, too."
Recently, Ms. Johnson had teamed up with a co-worker to raise money for the AIDS marathon. The duo had hoped to raise $3,000 but ended up securing more than $6,000 in donations.
Besides for her mother, Ms. Johnson is survived by her father, Kurt, and a brother, Adam.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
Johnson, Jenna Elizabeth age 22, of Studio City, CA, formerly of Countryside, beloved daughter of Maryanne (nee Baloun) and Kurt, loving sister of Adam, cherished granddaughter of Billie and the late James Baloun and the late Gus and the late Dorothy Johnson, also survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., from the funeral home, to St. Cletus Church, LaGrange, Mass 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Info 708-352-6500.
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times from 12/25/2005 - 12/26/2005.
From leading Lyons Township High School to the Illinois High School Association girls soccer state finals in 2000, to helping the Libertyville-based Eclipse Soccer Club capture numerous U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, she experienced what many athletes only dream about.
Ms. Johnson, who was preparing to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Thursday, died on Sunday in Los Angeles while training for a marathon to benefit AIDS research. The cause of death is still unknown.
"She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached," former Lyons Township girls soccer coach Andy Newcomb said. "I have never met a person in my life that was as self-confident as Jenna was."
During her four-year varsity career at Lyons Township, Ms. Johnson recorded 66 goals and 59 assists playing in the midfield. In 2000, she scored 26 goals and handed out 18 assists to help the Lions advance to the state finals.
"When Jenna started to crawl, I knew she was never looking back and that I was going to have my hands full," said her mother, Maryanne. "Everything was too slow for her, because she always wanted to approach things fast. Whether it was with school or other things, she wanted to learn and move on to do bigger and better things."
Ms. Johnson continued her soccer career at Miami (Fla.). She was recently named to the under-23 U.S. Women's National "B" Team.
"She never forgot about where she came from," said family friend, Alex Hernandez. "Jenna always came back to work at different soccer camps during the summer, and was really willing to do anything to help anyone."
After graduating from Miami in 2004 with a double major in Motion Pictures and English, Ms. Johnson moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a production assistant for the George Lopez Show last January.
"Jenna was a genuine person," said Rory Dames, who is the director of the Eclipse Soccer Club. "She kept talking about how she wanted to make a movie, and that was one reason why she decided to move out to Los Angeles."
According to her mother, Ms. Johnson wanted to make a movie that would make a difference in the world.
"Everything she did, she did it with a purpose," said her mother. "Jenna really looked at herself as an example. She not only wanted to make herself better, but she wanted to make the people around her better, too."
Recently, Ms. Johnson had teamed up with a co-worker to raise money for the AIDS marathon. The duo had hoped to raise $3,000 but ended up securing more than $6,000 in donations.
Besides for her mother, Ms. Johnson is survived by her father, Kurt, and a brother, Adam.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
Johnson, Jenna Elizabeth age 22, of Studio City, CA, formerly of Countryside, beloved daughter of Maryanne (nee Baloun) and Kurt, loving sister of Adam, cherished granddaughter of Billie and the late James Baloun and the late Gus and the late Dorothy Johnson, also survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., from the funeral home, to St. Cletus Church, LaGrange, Mass 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Info 708-352-6500.
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times from 12/25/2005 - 12/26/2005.
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