Jane Elizabeth (Gunderson) WILLIAMS JOHNSON

GUNDERSON, WILLIAMS, JOHNSON, STULTZ, CAMPO, NEELEY, WAFER, MCNAIR, THOMAS, GALLEGOS, MUNIZ, SCHULTE, MAHONEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/12/2014 at 14:20:26

April 20, 1920 --- February 6, 2014

Jane Elizabeth (Gunderson) (Williams) Johnson, 93, passed away February 6, 2014, after an extended illness. Born in Eagle Grove, Iowa on April 20, 1920, she was the only child of Elmer C. and Mildred (Stultz) Gunderson. Throughout her life Jane loved music, singing her first solo performance at the age of two. She sang soprano in the Eagle Grove High School Glee Club, and after moving to Albuquerque with her mother following her graduation, she sang in numerous church choirs and community choruses, including The Albuquerque Civic Chorus, The Enchanters, The Friends, The Highlanders, and others. When her children were young she was active in the Lavaland Parents Association and other civic organizations. She later did secretarial and office management work for various businesses in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In the mid-1950’s, Jane was runner-up in the Mrs. New Mexico Competition. She led an active social life, enjoyed camping and fishing with friends in scenic spots around New Mexico, and she especially loved spending time with her family. She had many pet cats and dogs throughout her life and would regale family and friends with stories of their antics, like the kitten who ate her slippers and the Siamese who, it turned out, considered himself at home in several places in the neighborhood in addition to her family’s home. Jane’s family and friends will remember her as an intelligent, loving, generous soul who could always be counted on for words of encouragement and a good laugh, even as she maintained her notorious reputation for being late. One of her friends commented, “My life would not have been the same without Jane; she was such a dear friend.”

Her loss is deeply felt by those who loved her, and heartfelt gratitude is extended to Dr. Elizabeth Morgan and to the staff at Highpointe Care, who cared for and loved her during the last months of her life. Jane is survived by her daughter Ann (Williams/Campo) Neeley and her husband, Paul, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, with whom she lived for many years before entering Highpointe Care; her daughter Jeanne (Williams) Johnson and her husband, Harry, of Medway, Massachusetts; her daughter-in-law, Mary Johnson, of Albuquerque; and her son-in-law, David Wafer, of Arley, Alabama. She also leaves her grandchildren, Joshua Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth, and Harry Johnson, of Medway, Massachusetts; Larissa (Campo) McNair, of Wauconda, Illinois; Carina (Campo) Thomas and her husband, Rodney, of Bartlett, Illinois; David Wafer, Jr. and his wife Nina, of Murietta, California; Heather Johnson and Sarah (Johnson/Gallegos) Thompson and her husband, Mike, of Boise, Idaho; and Erik A. Johnson, Jr., of Albuquerque. Nine great-grandchildren also survive: Wyatt and Westley Johnson; Jessica, Alan Joseph (A.J.), and Livia Thomas; David Wafer III “Trey” and Addison Wafer; Stacey Muniz; and Nathan Gallegos. Several cousins, including Maxine (Schulte) Mahoney of this city, also survive. Jane was predeceased by her first husband, Hugh H. Williams, Jr., her son Lt. Col. (NMANG) Hugh (‘Cato’) Williams III, her second husband, Arnold E. Johnson, her son CMSgt (Ret) (NMANG) Ronald (‘Radar’) E. Johnson, her daughter Sally (Williams) Wafer, and her son MSgt (Ret) (NMANG) Erik (‘Sonar’) A. Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at Daniels Family Funeral Services, 7601 Wyoming Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico on Wednesday, February 12, at 2 p.m., followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend.

http://www.danielsfuneral.com/sitemaker/sites/Daniel2/obit.cgi?user=1235930Johnson