Johnson, Mary Joan Beatrice

Mary Joan Beatrice Johnson, daughter of Leo Cox and Dorothy Kahoe Cox, was born Dec. 16, 1926, in Jefferson, Iowa, and died Wednesday, March 27, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids at the age of 85 years, 3 months and 11 days.

Her funeral services were held March 31, 2012, at Hastings Funeral Home, Jefferson. Pastor Larry Monthei of the Hope Perish, Cooper, officiated. Her honorary casket bearers were Christine Hatfield, Christian Rice, Ronda Dehning, Susie Eckhardt, Becky Gidding, Deanna Rice, Kathy Rice, Stacey Guerra and Tina Rice. Active casket bearers were Jason Rice, Vince Rice, Nick Hanson, Jeremiah Rice, Michael Rice, Jon Rice, Greg Rice, Herb Alford and Jeff Alford. Her music was recorded “The Dance,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Kansas City.” The burial was at the Rippey Cemetery, Rippey, Iowa. The Rippey United Methodist women provided the lunch after the burial.

Joan, as she preferred to be called, attended Cooper School. She married Howard Rice in 1944 and they lived in the Farlin and Jefferson area. She worked at American Athletics in Jefferson, until 1970. She moved to Marengo in 1970 and in 1972 married Cecil Johnson. They lived in Ladora. Cecil died in 1990.

Joan had worked at Amana Refrigeration, Colony Village in the Amanas, Rose Haven Nursing Home and Arby's at the Tanger Outlet Mall. Joan's favorite mission in life was caring for her family and was a “Nanny” to her numerous grandchildren. She was an avid reader, a beautiful seamstress and crocheted many wonderful gifts for her family and friends. Her children especially enjoy the beautiful afghans she made. Joan loved crafts and had painted ceramics. Throughout her life, Joan loved horses. In later years, she enjoyed the “Twilight” books and movies.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; her parents; an infant daughter, Rosemary; her sons, Ron Rice and Howard “Butch” Rice; and sister, Marcia Cox.

Joan will be very missed by her children, Maralyn Wilson of Iowa City, David Rice and wife Shirley of Churdan, Suzanne Schulte and her husband. Charlie of Cedar Rapids. and Tim Rice and his wife, Sheri of Marengo; daughter-in-law, Anna Rice of Marshalltown; 18 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; many great-great-grandchildren; brother, Larry Cox of Des Moines; sisters, Rose Tully of Virginia, and Sally Brown of Missouri; aunt, Patsy McGinnis of Jefferson; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Published in The Gazette April 4, 2012.