Johnson, Johanna G. 1916-2005

JOHNSON, BLEKKINK, HARWIG

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer
Date: 4/14/2007 at 20:12:47

AKRON, Iowa -- Johanna Johnson, 89, of Akron passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at Akron Care Center.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A., in Akron, with the Rev. Glenn Lundahl officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home-Schroeder Chapel in Akron.

Johanna G. Johnson was born March 1, 1916, in Winterswyk, The Netherlands, the daughter of Hendrik Jan and Grada Isabella (Blekkink) Harwig. When she was four years old, she, her parents, a sister and two brothers immigrated to the U.S. in December 1920. They passed through Ellis Island. When arriving in the states, the family settled, initially, in the Ireton, Iowa area and lived in Sioux Center, Iowa where her third brother was born. Later, they moved to the Akron and Westfield areas of Plymouth County, Iowa. She attended country school and later college at Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where she received her teaching certificate. Later, she attended the University of South Dakota, where she received her master's degree.

She was united in marriage to Ernest W. "E.W." Johnson on Oct. 1, 1938, in Fremont, Neb. Together, they were the parents of two children, Carla and Randy. For a short time, they lived in Phoenix, Ariz. during the 1940s. They farmed in the Westfield and Akron areas until his retirement. She began her teaching career in Plymouth County, teaching country school. Later, she taught grade school in Westfield and Riverview School in Sioux City for 19 years. She retired, after 43 years of teaching, in 1979. After their retirement, the couple spent many winters in Mesa and Apache Junction areas of Arizona. E.W. passed away Sept. 17, 1995.

She was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years. She, along with Julia Taylor, organized the Westfield Cloverettes 4-H Club, which she led for 10 years. She was a former member of the Plymouth County Extension Council. She enjoyed painting, writing poetry, singing and traveling. While traveling, they enjoyed collecting antiques.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Carla and Peter Macfarlane of Sioux City and Randy and Marlys Johnson of Akron; four grandchildren, Steven Macfarlane and his wife, Amy of Sioux City, Laura Macfarlane and her fiance, Scott Hansen of Hinton, Iowa, Amy Johnson and her husband, Heath of South Lake, Texas, and Ann Johnson of Akron; six great-grandchildren, Greer Macfarlane, Braden Hansen, Katelyn and Kyle Johnson, Katie Rosencrants and Hilary Rosencrants; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Henry, Bernard and William; and a sister, Anna Hammersma.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland and/or Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Pallbearers will be Clifford Johnson, Russell Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Henry Harwig, Charles Dewey and Steven Macfarlane.

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