1947-2024
Donna Jean Johnson, 77, daughter of Albert and Inez Nelson, was born May 19, 1947, in Lohrville. She passed away Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines.
She married Francis “Frank” Johnson on Nov. 7, 1964, at the Morrisburg Church. They lived near Dexter and then moved to Redfield. In 1970, they purchased the farm south of Panora. She worked road construction as a flag person and made sandwiches for the road crew before purchasing the farm. She farmed with Frank and then went to work at Stetson Building Products with accounts payable in the 1980s and worked there for 25-plus years. When they moved to Panora, she helped out at the Panora Ben Franklin Store and then worked at Panora State Bank until she had to retire due to health reasons.
She was very active in the Guthrie County Pork Producers alongside Frank and was a Master Pork Producer in the State of Iowa in 1991.They traveled to other states to promote pork in big city grocery stores. They hosted more than a dozen foreign exchange students and traveled to Brazil to visit them as well. She also volunteered at the 3C’s in Panora.
She loved Frank so much that she went to be with him just one day before his passing nine years ago.
Donna is survived by her son, John (Margo) Johnson; daughter, Sheila (Andy) Allen; grandsons, Dalton (Dakota) Allen and Levi (Maddie) Johnson; granddaughters, Jaden Johnson, Bridgette (Luke) Skalla, and Beth (Jeremy) Gregory; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Marilyn Bettis of Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; sisters, Sharon Daisy and Edna Anderson; and brother, Bill Nelson.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the Panora United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Morrisburg Cemetery, rural Stuart. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.