Obituaries

Joanne Mary Johnson died peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Story Point Assisted Living on May 19, 2019. She was born April 25, 1933 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to Theodore and Astrid LeVine.

Joanne was raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa and graduated from their high school where she excelled in music. She was a member of the National Honor Society, played the violin and piano and received a National Music award in a musical trio she sang in. She attended Iowa State Teachers College for a year after high school. She continued to love music all her life which seemed to touch her soul. For her 85th and 86th birthdays she was delighted by being serenaded with favorite hymns from family friends and those who loved her.

When the man that had lived across the street from her for most of her life came home from the Army and they realized they were “forever sweethearts” and soon married. Her husband Ronald and she moved to Michigan after being married in 1952. Ron started a job at Dow Corning and she also worked there as an administrative assistant until the birth of her first child at which time she became a super mom to Mark, Mary, Lisa and David as well as a super grandmother who was there every moment her kids or grandchildren needed her.
She volunteered at Midland Hospital, was very involved in Trinity Lutheran Church and had special friends in prayer groups and reunion groups. She and Ron spent time in Sandestin, Florida after dad was retired. They shared precious memories with many visitors there. We have been blessed and will never forget them.

She and her husband were very active and leaders in the Lutheran Via de Cristo movement. But possibly her favorite “job” was sharing her love by making friends, being a friend and bringing that friend to Christ, which she almost always did while taking them to lunch. Possibly the advice she gave to us and the way she lived her life was stated in her own words to her grandchildren when she said “with God’s help all things are possible! Please believe that- I promise you that it is true. All your life, go in Jesus’s name.” This is how she lived her life.

She is survived by her children Mary (Richard), Lisa (Jim), and David (Kathy), daughter-in-law Coleen Johnson. Grandchildren, Bella Johnson, Joshua Ray (Tina Chen), Kirsten (Michael) Porter, Michelle (David) Wilkins, Justin, Brandon, and Evan Johnson and step grandchildren Matthew Grundy, Stephanie Zillich, And Rick Fuentes. She was a great grandma to Jackson Wilkins, Mya and Zoey Porter, and Evan Ray. She was pre-deceased by her brother Eugene LeVine, husband Ronald, and her son Mark.

Funeral services for Joanne will take place 12 noon, Friday, May 24, 2019 from Trinity Lutheran Church, 3701 Jefferson Avenue. Family will receive friends at Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Trinity Lutheran Church, or Lutheran Via De Cristo of Central Michigan.

To plant a tree in memory of Joanne Mary Johnson, please visit our Tribute Store.

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