Obituary of Gladys Johnson

Funeral services for Gladys Johnson of Milford will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji, Iowa. Burial will be at Milford Cemetery. A visitation with family present will take place on Friday, May 29, 2015 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford, Iowa. Gladys Rosalind Johnson, daughter of Nels and Elisa Roarson, was born in Ossian, Iowa, on May 17th, 1920. Eventually, the Roarson family moved to a farm west of Lake Okoboji, where she attended a one room school. Gladys graduated from Milford High School and furthered her education at beauty school to become a cosmetologist. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. At the First Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa, Gladys married Dale L. Johnson. They lived on the Johnson Hereford Farm for 37 years before moving to town. In those locations she enjoyed entertaining her family, friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Gladys was president of several organizations: First Lutheran Women of the Church, Dickinson Co. Republican Women, Dickinson Co. Farm Bureau Women, Milford Garden Club, Zeta Beta's, and Okoboji Porcelain China Painters. She was a member of Eastern Star and the Iowa Hereford Auxiliary. Gladys volunteered at St. Luke Nursing Home, organized the Meals on Wheels calendar, and served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. On Sunday, May 24, 2015, Gladys passed away at St. Lukes Nursing Home in Spencer, Iowa, at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, George and Norman Roarson, and infant granddaughter, Heidi Harves. Surviving family members who will cherish her memories are: son, Thomas D. Johnson (Marcene) & family - Jody Burt (Jeremy); son, Jack Johnson (Lynne) & family - Jim Johnson (Cristi), Chris Johnson (fiancé, Jackie), Louis Johnson (Laura), and Thomas R. Johnson (Amy); and daughter Ann Harves (Richard) & family - Kristi Harves Fisher (Brian) and Stephanie Harves Essick (Matt); fifteen great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, LaVonne Meyerdirk; and several other relatives and friends.