MaryAnn Johnson, 87, of Burlington, died Monday, March 27, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington surrounded by family.
She was born, at home, in Oakville, during a bitter December snow storm, to Wilma Faris Timmerman. She joined 3 brothers who she adored; Russell "Skip", Fritz, and David Timmerman.
Wilma raised the 4 children as a single mom. MaryAnn’s strong work ethic was instilled early, as everyone in the family pitched in to help make ends meet. MaryAnn did many jobs; babysitting, working in the restaurant uptown, and odd jobs for neighbors, which included picking dandelion greens for a penny a piece. MaryAnn also knew how to have fun; playing as #13 in basketball and softball for the Oakville Indians, going to dances, and hanging out with friends in her close-knit hometown. She moved to Burlington when her mom married Walter "Red" Senn. After graduating from Burlington High School, she found a job she loved, working at Fullerton Lumber Yard, as a bookkeeper.
MaryAnn was very faith-filled. She was raised in the Presbyterian church in Oakville, attending services and Sunday school with her mother and brothers. She enjoyed attending Sunday school so much, that she unsuccessfully tried to go when she had the mumps. While living with her roommate, Karen McLaughlin, she started attending Mass. MaryAnn received instruction and her Sacraments at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in 1956. While hanging out with friends, and scoop’n the loop, a handsome guy, with a motorcycle, caught her eye. In 1958, she took Red’s arm to walk down the aisle of St John’s Church, to marry Mark Johnson. They probably never imagined that the next 64 years would be filled with 6 children, Nanette (Nan), Gina, Joan, Karen, Michael (Mike) and Dean. 9 grandchildren, Melissa , Michelle, Sadie, Miles, Shelby, Aikaterini, Antonios, Hannah and Josh. 5 great-grandchildren, Jolynn, Myla, Reagan, Piper, JaKobey and another on the way in August.
While raising the kids, MaryAnn was active in the Perkins School PTA, holding several offices, being a room mother, and in the bowling league that raised money for scholarships. She also volunteered her time at church, supporting the homemade cinnamon roll bake sales (a favorite), funeral committee, finance committee, Eucharistic minister, Catholic Daughters and Lady’s circle. She hosted a card club and supported mothers of babies born with cleft lip and palate. (Her kids loved the left over desserts after the groups would meet at the house.) MaryAnn played on a softball league, hitting multiple home runs, and basketball (6 on 6) as a guard. Some afternoons she could be found playing “h.o.r.s.e.” and basketball with her kids (always challenging them and never giving them an easy win). As a family, they spent many weekends boating on the Mississippi River. Each summer she had a huge garden and canned a rainbow of vegetables and fruits that brightened the shelves in the basement. A talented baker and cook, she made bread, and pastries and tried new food and drink recipes to be shared with family and friends. MaryAnn and Mark enjoyed entertaining and often had people over for no reason, but to enjoy their company. That’s how her kids learned to set a nice table.
MaryAnn was a talented seamstress creating everything from play clothes to wedding dresses, leisure suits, and hunting gear for dad and the boys, Barbie clothes, and new doll clothes for the girls She tidied lightly used dolls to be donated, dressing them in new clothes that became Christmas gifts. After the kids got older she worked part-time at Arledge Trucking Company, managing their salvage store. After that, she worked for many years at First National Bank and Trust. She and Mark remodeled an 1885 brick home and enjoyed travels that took them to Austria, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Ireland, Mexico, and Greece, many cruises, that included going down the Main River, Alaska, and tropical island stops. They built fond memories of taking their grandchildren on trips throughout the United States. MaryAnn and Mark also enjoyed wintering, for almost 20 years, in Palm Springs, Calif. Where they still have many close friends.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Mark, children Nan Johnson Heer (David) of Ames, daughters; Melissa Heer Ahmed (Ali) of Dallas, Texas, Michelle Heer (Kyle Berg) of Dubuque, Gina (Bill) Schubert of Burlington, Joan (Dan) Wegener of New London, children; Sadie (Marcus) Martin, daughters; Jolynn and Myla of New London, Miles Wegener of Woodward, Shelby Hill (Jordan) daughters; Reagan and Piper of Crawfordsville, Karen Johnson Stylianides (Georgios) of Stroudsburg, Pa., children; Aikaterini Stylianides of State College, Pa. and Antonios Stylianides of State College, Pa., Mike (Kathy) Johnson of Ft. Madison and daughter Hannah Hobbs of Dundas, Minn., Dean (Pam) Johnson of Danville, son; Josh Poggemiller (Ashley Bomia), son; JaKobey Johnson. Sister-in-law Dorothy Timmerman of Wapello and many generations of nieces and nephews.
MaryAnn was preceded in death by her treasured parents, Wilma and Walter Senn, her dear brothers Skip, Fritz, David, and his wife Marge. Her dear in-laws Carl and Rose Johnson and brother-in-law Paul Johnson and his wife Bonnie.
Visitation will be from 12:00 to 7 p.m. with the family to receive friends following a 5 p.m. Rosary Service until 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, 2023, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for MaryAnn will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Divine Mercy Parish-St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Very Rev. Father Marty Goetz as the Celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held at St. John's Cafeteria following the burial.
Memorials have been established for St. Mary's Our Lady of Grace Grotto and the N. 6th St. Cemetery.