Johns, Claire 1928-2017

JOHNS, NOHELTY, SMITH, FLEMING, REYNOLDS, DYKEMA, BRKLJACK, WEST, STRAITT

Posted By: NettieMae
Date: 4/2/2017 at 13:29:52

Claire Johns, age 88, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center, Mt. Carroll. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 14, 2017, at SS John and Catherine Catholic Church, Mt. Carroll with Father Moises Apostol as Celebrant. Burial will take place in Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna. A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 14, 2017, at the Church prior to Mass. Memorials may be made in Claire's name to the Savanna Food Pantry and SS John and Catherine Catholic Church. Family and friends are invited to share in Claire's life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Claire was born on November 2, 1928, in Savanna, the daughter of Wayne C. and Margaret (Nohelty) Smith. She attended St. John's Catholic School and graduated Valedictorian of her 8th grade class. She later attended Savanna High School and graduated with the Class of 1946. In her younger years, she enjoyed hunting and fishing with her father. She also worked at her father's restaurant in Savanna. Claire had her first date with her future husband, Jason Johns, at the Royal Palace in Galena where they danced the night away to Lawrence Welk. They were later married on March 25, 1947, in Paris, France. They stayed in Europe until 1948 while Jason served in the United States Army, traveling to Germany, Switzerland and Holland.

Claire farmed with Jason in rural Mt. Carroll for many years. She later went to work at Mt. Carroll Mutual Insurance Company from 1966 until her retirement in 1991. She and Jason moved into town in 1992. Claire was a member of the Ladies Society at SS John and Catherine Catholic Church and she and Jason were 4-C Charter Members. She loved their card club, crocheting pot holders and afghans to give to her friends, and especially dancing. Most of all, Claire cherished the time spent with her family.

Claire will be dearly missed by her husband, Jason; three children, Teresa (Jim) Fleming of Kalona, Iowa, Jay (Kathy) Johns of Bloomington, Illinois, and Pat (Al) Reynolds of Clinton, Iowa; five grandchildren, Brent Dykema, Stacy Dykema, Matt Reynolds, Andrea Johns, and Chris Johns; two step-grandchildren, Kenny and Kurt Fleming; two sisters-in-law, Marie Brkljack and Lorene West, both of Savanna; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Margaret Sue in 1993; and a sister, Margaret "Peggy" Straitt in 1997. - See more at: http://obituaries.clintonherald.com/story/claire-johns-1928-2017-864455602#sthash.RU6VqJCp.dpuf