Johnson, F. Jeanne

F. Jeanne Johnson 85, of Kirkwood, IL died at 9:45 P.M. Thursday, September 18, 2008 at Galesburg Cottage Hospital, Galesburg. 

She was born on July 21, 1923 to Isal Andrews (Hagy) in Knoxville, Illinois. She attended Galesburg High School and graduated in 1941.  She went to Western Illinois University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1948. 

Prior to graduation and due to the shortage of degreed teachers as the result of World War II, she taught school in a one room school house in rural Smithshire, Illinois.  She enlisted and served in the Navy, and was stationed in Washington D.C. in 1944.  She returned to Macomb to finish her degree in Education and then married Edward Johnson on May 23, 1946 in Cameron, Illinois.  They lived in Bushnell for several years.  The next stop was La Harpe, where Jeanne worked as a substitute teacher.   Mr. Johnson became principal at Kirkwood High School and they moved to Kirkwood Illinois in 1955 where they settled and lived until he died April 11,2003.  She moved into the Hawthorne Inn in Galesburg at that time.

Jeanne taught school in the Yorkwood district for 20 years (1960 to 1980) and then worked as a teacher’s aide in the Monmouth School systems for 5 years. Through this work, she met many friends and was very active in local groups and clubs, such as the AAUW.  Jeanne was a member of the Kirkwood Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1955 until the time of her death. 

Ed and Jeanne Johnson were avid travelers and took advantage of summers off to travel the US.  They managed to travel to all 50 states in the U.S.  during the course of their 57 year marriage.  In addition to traveling, they took dance classes in Galesburg during the 80’s and early 90’s and spent many a weekends dancing the night away.  Jeanne decided to learn to play the piano that was sitting idle in their house and took lessons for 5 years in Kirkwood after she was 60.  She also enjoyed reading, doing word games, and working in the yard. 

She is survived by her son Joe (Shari) Johnson of Farmington Hills, Michigan.  She is also survived by cousins Jim Clayton of Knoxville, Kay Behrens of Orlando, Florida, Dean Clayton of Arizona, and one aunt, Wanda Andrews of Galesburg. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Ed Johnson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, September 22, 2008  at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Monmouth with Rev. Dottie Halverson of the Kirkwood Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be in Center Grove Cemetery, Kirkwood.  Friends may call Monday, at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel where her family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services. 

Memorials may be given to the Kirkwood Westminster Church.

Online condolences may left at hooverhall.com.