JoAnna Johnson

JoAnna (Howard) Johnson, 80, of Orion, departed this earth to be with our Lord on Wednesday August 23, 2023, at UnityPoint Trinity Rock Island.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday September 2, 2023, at First Evangelical Free Church, Moline.  Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the church.  Private burial will be at Rural Township Cemetery at Beulah.  Memorials may be made to her family for a fund to be established.

JoAnna was born on May 2, 1943, in Pope County, Illinois, the daughter of George Washington and Golda Marie (Hicks) Howard. She married Lyle Keith Johnson on March 11, 1967, at First Evangelical Free Church. She graduated from Dixon High School, Dixon, Illinois. After high school she worked at Slothowen’s Insurance Agency in Dixon, and then at National Sunday School in Chicago, as a receptionist. She then attended St. Paul Bible College, St Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from Moline Public School of Nursing in 1966. Subsequently she was employed as a Registered Nurse at the former Moline Public Hospital and for 20 years at the Rock Island County Health Department.

Her faith in Jesus Christ and prayer life were very important to her, and because she cared about others many were blessed to experience her prayers for and with them. She was a long-time member First Evangelical Free Church. She was active at her church serving as a Sunday school teacher, Deaconess, and on the Missions Board.

JoAnna also helped to start the Christian Women’s Club (CWC) in the area and was on the board of directors.

She loved music and used her beautiful alto voice to sing in music groups, solos, and duets, including with her husband, Lyle, in church and other venues. She loved sewing and crafting, especially making cards. Many were blessed to receive her cards containing handwritten notes of encouragement.

JoAnna loved spending time with family, and especially relished the time with her grandchildren.

Left to mourn her passing are her husband, Lyle; son, Brian (Anne) Johnson, Davenport; daughter, Janelle (Bruce) Daasch, Rock Island; grandchildren, Emily, Paige, Sophie, Evelyn & Caleb; sister, Melva Sue Miller; nephews, David (Laura) Danay, Ivan (Janice) Danay, Steven (Judy) Howard, as well as many other nieces and nephews, and many friends within the Church family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings: Eugene, Gleda (Fred) Danay, Len, Mabel, Wanda, and Dennis, and daughter-in-law, Anita Johnson.

Memories may be shared on the tribute wall.