Thelma G. Johnson

Thelma G. Johnson, 94, of Charles City, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, July 8, 2009, at Cedar Health in Charles City.

Funeral services for Thelma Johnson will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City. Pastor Robert Holdorf of the West Saint Charles United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Thelma Gertrude Stoeber Johnson was born April 25, 1915, on the Greenzweig homestead farm in Floyd County, the daughter of Ralph and Mabel (Greenzweig) Stoeber. She attended country school, Charles City Normal School, and Iowa Teachers College. She taught primary through 8th grades at Schlick School and at the Ulster #3 Township School for five years. On January 2, 1938, she was united in marriage to Herbert Carl Johnson and shared 62 years of marriage. They farmed together on land located in West St. Charles and Ulster Townships, rural Charles City, where they raised four children. She was a lifelong member of the West Saint Charles United Methodist Church, where she served as organist, Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Teacher and many leadership capacities. Thelma was a 4-H leader for 25 years and served on the Floyd County Fair Board and ISU Floyd County Extension board. She was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. An award she prized was the Distinguished Service to Agriculture presented by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. She served at the township, county, and state levels of Farm Bureau and was Iowa Farm Bureau Women’s Chair for four terms. Thelma was also recognized as Wallace Farmer Master Farm Homemaker in 1957 and promoted farm life by hosting 106 foreign visitors from 37 countries over a span of 30 years. Other activities and leadership roles included Eastern Star, Iowa Mothers Association, Health Planning Council of Iowa to which she was appointed by the governor, and Country Women of the World. Thelma and Herb were world travelers, indeed were citizens of the world based in Charles City. Of importance to Thelma was keeping in touch and visiting German relatives. Her interests included cross stitching, crocheting and writing.

Living family members include her four children, Beverly (Harold) Biehr of Valparaiso, Ind., Barbara Robin Jones (Stan Liszka) of Chicago, Ill., Erwin (Yoshiko) Johnson of Charles City and Cindee (John) Schnekloth of Eldridge; eight grandchildren, Amy, Clint, Hans, Juan, Luis, Mark, Valerie and Wendy; eight great-grandchildren; six step-great grandchildren; and seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a brother, Leslie (Gere) Stoeber.

Memorials may be directed to the West St. Charles United Methodist Church, the 4-H Foundation, or the Floyd County Fair.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.