Laura Johnston

LAURA CONRAD JOHNSTON

Anamosa

Laura Mae Conrad Johnston, 92, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at the Anamosa Care Center following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at First Congrega-tional Church, Anamosa, with interment in Riverside Cemetery. The Rev. Greg Griffin will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa.

Thoughts, memories, and condolences may be left at www.goettsch online.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Surviving are four sons, Tom (Trudy Erickson) Conrad, Cedar Rapids, Jerry (Jan) Conrad, Libertyville, Ill., Dick (Kathy) Conrad, Marion, and Dennis (Veronique) Conrad, Cedar Falls; two stepsons, Jim (Donna) Johnston, Fairfax, Va., and Bill (Linda) Johnston, Edmond, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Cory (Staci) Conrad, Andy (Karen) Conrad, Amanda Conrad, Scott (Lisa) Conrad, Sara (James) LeMosy and Jesse, Jake and Lily Conrad; two stepgrandchildren, Michelle (Brad) Jenks and Michael (Kelli) Pesola; eight great-grandchildren, Dakota, Sydney, Ryan, Adam, Nathan, Noah, Alex and Everett; and four stepgreat-grandchildren, Cody, Tyler, Vincent and Isabella.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Hank Hartman; her husband, Jess Conrad; second husband, James Johnston; a brother, Richard Ireland; and special niece, Debra Ireland Reynolds.

Laura Mae Ireland was born Oct. 23, 1922, in the Antioch area east of Anamosa. She was raised by her mother, Gladys Day. Laura graduated from Anamosa Community Schools in 1940. She went on to attend AIC Business School in Davenport, graduating in 1942. Laura worked for the Civil Service headquarters in Monroe, N.C. It was there in Monroe that she married her high school sweetheart, Jess Conrad, on Dec. 24, 1942. The couple moved to Pomona, Calif., while Jess was in the service and Laura was a women's ordinance worker or "WOW." After the war the couple owned and operated Conrad Grocery in Anamosa from 1946 until 1964.

While growing up in Anamosa, Laura worked at the Holden Hotel, Reliance Shirt Factory and the Ice Cream store. Her first husband, Jess, preceded her in death on April 8, 1994. Laura married James Johnston on Feb. 23, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nev. He passed away March 25, 2005.

Laura was a member of the Eastern Star for 50 years, the Ophelian Club, Fortnightly Club, Anamosa Hospital Auxiliary, Anamosa Red Hat Society and Bridge Club for 40 years.

Laura was small in stature, big in heart, and will be dearly missed by those who loved her.