Johnson, Pearl M. 1942-2004

JOHNSON, HULS, BOESCELD

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer
Date: 4/14/2007 at 20:39:36

AKRON, Iowa -- Pearl M. Johnson, 62, of Canyon Lake, Texas, formerly of Akron, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2004, at her residence in Texas, following a 10-year battle with cancer.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A., in Akron, with the Rev. Jean Morse officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Akron. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 7 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home, Schroeder Chapel in Akron.

Mrs. Johnson was born May 31, 1942, in Akron, the daughter of John and Anna (Boesceld) Huls. Early in her career, she worked in Sioux City with the Martin's Department Store and as print shop manager for Security National Bank.

Pearl Johnson has been in the newspaper business for more than 40 years. She partnered with Don, her husband of 46 years, to publish five weekly newspapers, two in Nebraska, two in Iowa and one in Texas. She was honored with a national award in feature writing by the National Women's Press Association.

Pearl was the consummate newspaperwoman, adept at all phases of the business. In addition to her writing skills, she excelled at advertising and editorial layout and design. She was a patient teacher, whose employee-students went on to major publications. One currently works at the Los Angeles Times.

After owning the Rock Valley Bee for 18 years, the Johnsons retired in 1999, relocating to the retirement community of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. While there, Mrs. Johnson spent three years as a real estate agent with the local office of Coldwell Banker. However, the Johnsons missed the newspaper business and started looking to buy another one, but in a milder climate. They purchased the Canyon Lake Times Guardian and its sister publication, The Advisor advertising shopper, in July of 2003.

Despite her illness, she was active in the Canyon Lake Women In Business service organization. Mrs. Johnson was a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a loving wife and mother.

Survivors include her husband, Donald L. Johnson, of Canyon Lake, Texas; two daughters, Patti Kosters of Canyon Lake (advertising manager of the Time Guardian) and Jacqueline Lasister and her husband, William, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Michael Rohde of Boyden, Iowa, Timothy Sopoci of Canyon Lake, Thomas and Erica Sopoci of Lake Havasu City and Alex Kosters of Canyon Lake; two great-grandchildren, Alec and Laney Rohde, of Boyden; a brother, Ray Huls, of Canyon Lake; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters; and two brothers.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and nephews.

[Part of the Darrell Eason Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]