Johnson, Emeline C (1921-2015)

JOHNSON, NELSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 4/7/2015 at 19:56:04

Emeline C Johnson
September 9, 1921 - March 2, 2015

Emeline C. Johnson, 93, of Forest City, died on Monday, March 2, 2015, at the Village Legacy Point Care Center in Waukee, Iowa.

Emeline was born in Forest City, Iowa, on September 9, 1921, to Lottie and Henry Nelson. In 1938, she graduated from Forest City High School and in 1943, from Mounds Midway School of Nursing as a registered nurse. From 1944 to 1946, she served as a World War II Navy nurse and officer (Lt j.g.) stationed at the Great Lakes and Corona, California, naval facilities.

Emeline married Glenn E. Johnson on October 21, 1949. While raising her family, she continued working part-time as a registered nurse in the Forest City Hospital until 1966 when she changed her focus from the hospital to the Winnebago Public Health service. In her public nurse role, she was always out driving the roads of Winnebago County to reach people that needed help even in tough winter driving conditions. She retired as Director of Winnebago Public Health Nursing in 1986.

After Glenn passed away in 1991, Emeline turned her focus to volunteer work in the Forest City community including many years as a Hospice transportation volunteer and a Hospice Grief Counselor. Of her services, the North Iowa Hospice staff stated, “Emeline exemplifies the mission of Hospice through her gentle ways, genuine and generous caring with the terminally ill and the bereaved. Staying overnight, providing transportation, respite care and friendship are reasons why many requested Emeline’s services.”

She also volunteered at Waldorf, AWANA, RSVP, the Good Samaritan Center and as a reading coach at the Forest City Elementary School reading program. Moreover, she served as a Board Member and treasurer of her condo association for several terms.

A woman of faith and prayer, Emeline belonged to the First Baptist Church her entire life. She served as a Sunday School teacher for years, the church clerk for years, a GMG leader, and on various committees including pastoral search committees.

Emeline always had a close connection with her Swedish heritage. She took her mother, Lottie, back to Sweden when Lottie was 83 to visit sisters and brothers that had not emigrated to the U.S. She completed four trips to Sweden. On her last trip, she made sure to bring chocolate Swedish coins (kronor) for the elementary students that she had coached in reading that year.

Emeline was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Johnson; her parents, Henry and Lottie Nelson; and her brother, Mauritz Nelson.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren: her son, Steve Johnson, and his wife, Sue, and their children, Lindsay and Connor, of Wilton, Connecticut, and her daughter, Diane Johnson of Clive, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, March 6, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Forest City with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, March 5, 2015, at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel in Forest City. Interment will take place in the First Baptist Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or the First Baptist Church.

Copyright © 2015, Cataldo Schott Funeral Home

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