Mary Ann Johnson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mary Ann (Marie) Johnson was born September 8, 1912 in Lee County, Iowa the daughter of John and Laura (Handrich) Specht. On February 28, 1938 she was united in marriage to Lowell E. Johnson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They moved to a farm south of Knoxville where they enjoyed 53 years of married life. Mary Ann was a member of the Progressive Garden Club, the Washington Township Farm Bureau and the Attica United Methodist Church. Mary Ann’s many interests included flowers, fishing, birds, trees and most kinds of plant life. She especially enjoyed flowers and could grow virtually anything. She liked nothing better than to be outside, working with her flowers. She was also interested in various crafts and made many items, such as: covered hangers, crocheted pot holders and afghans. She also had a lifelong interest in traveling and loved to fly. She organized many Farm Bureau trips and various cruises. She continued to travel when she was in her 90’s. Mary Ann passed away Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at the West Ridge Nursing & Rehab Center at the age of 104 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lowell in 1991; brothers: Harold, John, Lester and Harry; sisters: Mabel Hughes, Lucille Adam, Irma Specht and Thelma Hardcastle and a son-in-law, Fred Beckman. Those left to honor Mary Ann’s memory include her daughters: Letha Beckman of Atlanta, Georgia, Mary Ann Johnson of Knoxville, Iowa, Genevieve Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa and Carol (Corwin) Fee of Knoxville, Iowa; a son, Jim (Terry) Johnson of Van Meter, Iowa; grandchildren: Steve (Gina) Beckman, Kelly (Randy) Esbeck, Mike (Nicole) Beckman, Karin Beckman, Eric (Angi) Fee, Curt (Dana) Fee, Stephanie Johnson and Matt Johnson; great-grandchildren: Candice (Billy) Dutra, Courtney Beckman, Tara Esbeck, David Esbeck, Terra Bumgardner, Erica Fee, Kenton Fee, Jaden Fee, Ashlann Fee, Onica Johnson, Casidy Lynch and Makayla Beckman; great-great grandchildren: Mackenzie, Halle and Brynlee Dutra; brother-in-law, Milton Johnson and many other family members and friends. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Homestead Assisted Living and West Ridge for the loving care given to their mother. A Celebration of Life for Mary Ann (Marie) Johnson, age 104 of Knoxville, will be held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 12:00 p.m. Friday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden or to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Celebration of Life Service Bybee & Davis Funeral Home – Knoxville, Iowa Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. Officiating Curtis Fee assisted by Steve Beckman Casket Bearers Steve Beckman Mike Beckman Eric Fee Curtis Fee Matt Johnson David Esbeck Interment Graceland Cemetery – Knoxville, Iowa

Mary Ann Johnson

September 8, 1912 - February 7, 2017