Virginia Dawn Boggess Johnson 1928 - 2012

BOGGESS, JOHNSON, NOLAN, EVELETH, YOUDS, WEIS, MACK, NEWKIRK, BOARDMAN

Posted By: Mary SIcard (email)
Date: 9/30/2013 at 09:15:57

ESTHERVILLE - Mass of Christian Burial for Virginia Johnson, 84, of Estherville will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville with Monsignor Michael Sernett as Celebrant. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville with Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Interment will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Estherville.

She died Monday, July 30, 2012, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Virginia Dawn (Boggess) Johnson,, the daughter of Lester and Mary (Nolan) Boggess was born July 7, 1928, in Estherville.

Virginia received her education in Estherville, graduating from Estherville High School. She then attended Estherville Junior College.

On Sept. 13, 1947, she was united in marriage to Bernard Johnson in Estherville. Through the years, she was employed with the Emmet County Child Welfare Office, Drs. Johnson and Roberts Optometry and Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, retiring in 1997.

Family was the most important part of Virginia's life, as her home was the gathering spot for holidays, special occasions or any marked event the family was celebrating. She loved to cook and bake, and the holidays will be remembered for the special treats she made for all. Decorating the house for the holidays was one of her favorite things, as she kept mementos that marked special occasions in each of her family member's lives. She loved spending time with her friends, both old and new. Whether you knew her for a minute, an hour, or a lifetime, you knew you had a friend who would love and cherish you forever. During her children's school years, all their friends knew Virginia as "Mom". It was not unusual for her children to come home and find that their friends were already there to see her.

She was a lifetime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, the Legion of Mary and member of the VFW Auxiliary. Virginia's passion was for music and singing. Her high-school yearbook noted her as "the voice". She was a member of the church choir for 68 years, as well as a member of the Country Chords chorus and the Many Voices choir. She enjoyed all types of music, but had a special place in her heart for the Big Band swing from the 40's and 50's. Virginia was also an animal lover, having many pets throughout the years.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Dawn and her husband, Bruce Eveleth, of Estherville and Ellen Youds of Marshalltown; sons, Steve and his fiance, Barb Mack, of Estherville and Larry and his wife, Carrie, of Estherville; a brother, Francis Boggess of Estherville; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Eric and Kristine Eveleth (Darnell, Dawson, and Emily) of Estherville, Jessica (Eveleth) and Andy Weis of Abilene, Texas, Jamie (Eveleth) Edwards of Estherville, Nick Youds of Ames, Patrick Youds of Marshalltown, Brian and Robin Mack (Madison and Kael) of Estherville, Kadee Newkirk (Braylen) of Estherville, Heather Newkirk (Gabriel) of Ft. Collins, Colo., John Johnson (Auston, Joseph) of Buffalo, N.Y. and her kitty-kids, Nate and Vinnie.

Her husband, Bernard; one son, James; her parents, Les and Mary; father- and mother-in-law, Severin and Palma Johnson; two brothers and their wives, Nolan (Lena) and Maurice (Doris) Boggess; nephew, Maurice Boggess Jr. and sister and brother-in-law, Irene (Bob) Boardman preceded her in death. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, August 3, 2012)