116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Mary Lou Johnson
MARY LOU JOHNSON
Hiawatha
12/6/1946 4/29/2018
Mary Lou Johnson, 71, of Hiawatha, was called home to Christ on Sunday, April 29, 2018, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 3, at Zion Lutheran Church, Hiawatha, officiated by the Rev. Daniel Kruger. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Marcus, Iowa, with fellowship to follow at Trinity Church.
Mary Lou was the daughter of Richard and Ruby (Sargent) Irwin. She was born Dec. 6, 1946, at Mrs. Murphy's in Kingsley, Iowa, and grew up on a farm in Grand Meadow Township. Mary Lou was baptized at Meadow Star United Brethren Church. She attended Grand Meadow School through the eighth grade and graduated from Marcus High School in 1965. She also graduated from Tyler Beauty School in 1966. On Aug. 26, 1967, Mary Lou married Charles Johnson. She worked as a beautician until May 1974 and then ran the Johnson household. Mary Lou was a church youth leader, taught Sunday school and led the ladies Bible study.
Mary Lou was heavily involved with her children's schools. She is in the Kennedy High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Mary Lou helped start the parent support groups for orchestra and show choir. She was also active in the baseball support group at Kennedy.
Mary Lou was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She had a generous spirit and loved to make quilts to give away, and to give gifts to the many children in her life. She participated in study buddies at Hiawatha Elementary School and the children looked forward to her Rice Krispie Treats.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Jim and Joe.
She is survived by her husband, Chuck; son, Michael, Hiawatha; daughter, Lori Nelson, Waverly; grandsons, Mason and John Nelson, Waverly; sister, Virginia (Bill), Helena, Mont.; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Irwin, Arkansas, and Eileen Irwin Anderson, Le Mars.
The family extends special thanks to the hospice nurses at St.Luke's Hospital.
Please share a memory of Mary Lou at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters