Karen Jean "Mima" (Dam) Johnson 1953 - 2017

DAM, JOHNSON, JANSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/15/2017 at 10:51:18

Sioux City Journal
12 January 2017

SIOUX CITY | Karen Jean "Mima" (Dam) Johnson, 63, of Sioux City, passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at home, surrounded by family, after a nearly 14-year battle with breast cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. James Methodist Church, with Pastors Eric Sayonkon and Jeff Vore officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Christy Smith Morningside Chapel.

She was born Sept. 4, 1953, in Sioux City, to Jack and Laura Mae (Jansen) Dam. Karen attended Sioux City Schools, graduating in 1971 from East High School. She studied fashion design at Iowa State, and finished her degree in textiles and clothing at the University of Iowa to avoid ISU's requirement to take organic chemistry.

Karen worked in clothing sales, returning to Sioux City in 1977 to open The Clothes Tree, a juniors' store in Morningside. That summer, she ran into Doug W. Johnson at a softball game, beginning a spectacular 39-year relationship. They married in 1979, and moved to Fort Collins, Colo., just before their anniversary.

In Colorado, Karen and Doug raised their family, and Karen continued her career in clothing sales. She altered dresses. When Doug’s designer did not have the time to design a custom home, Karen became a home designer.

The Johnson family moved to Sioux City in 1994, where Karen continued designing homes. Her designs have been built in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. She also altered hundreds of dresses for David's Bridal.

Karen was an avid fisherman, often reminding Doug that she caught more and larger fish.

Survivors include her husband, Doug Johnson; daughter, Anne and her daughter Sofi; son, Lee (Jacey) and their son Wilson; mother, Laura Dam; sisters, Jackie Butler and Barb (Tim) Hattig; brothers, Brian (Chris) Dam and Craig (Gina) Dam; many loved ones in the extended Johnson/Lund family; and countless nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Siouxland.

The family extends a special thanks to traveling oncologist Dr. Tenglin and Hospice of Siouxland.