Birth: September 8, 1921
Death: December 9, 2013
Location: Lot 38, Section 7, Row 3, Old Cemetery – NW
Thelma A. Johnson, 92, of Wood River died Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Wood River, with the Rev. Phil Sloat officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Wood River Cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson was born Sept. 8 1921, in Seward to William and Elsie (Heumann) Boeka.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Johnson, in 2003.
Those left to cherish her memories include two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Sue Johnson of Lincoln, Paul G. Jr. and Linda Johnson of Dallas, Ore.
Also surviving are five grandchildren, Brian Johnson of Lincoln, Mark Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz., Erik and wife, Kristen Johnson of LaGrange, Texas, Beth and husband, Kory McCracken of Red Cloud, and Nathan Johnson of Lincoln; and eight great-grandchildren, Matthew, Stephanie, Samantha, Austin, Kohlton, Kamryn, Izaiah and Alex.
She received her education and grew to womanhood in Goehner.
She was united in marriage to Paul G. Johnson Sr. on May 30, 1942, in the Methodist parsonage. The ceremony, performed by his father at precisely midnight, was to avoid a proposed prank by some of Paul’s friends to separate the bride and groom for a few days following the wedding, Paul and Thelma had other plans.
Shortly after their marriage, World War II began and Paul was called to serve, spending the next three and one-half years in the South Pacific. Thelma made her home with Paul’s folks, who had moved to Harrison.
The couple purchased the Harper Grocery in Wood River in 1953, later known as Johnson’s Grocery, which served the community until 1980 when the couple sold it to Brannigans.
They spent their retirement years wintering in Lake Havasu, Ariz.
She enjoyed antiques and flea markets.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wood River.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.
Posted in Obituaries on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 12 Grand Island Independent