Mary Lisa Johnson 1961 - 2024

JOHNSON, CARLYLE JENSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/1/2025 at 11:37:50

Lisa Johnson, 62, of Moorhead, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at her residence.

A memorial service will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Iowa, with Pastor Chip Borgstadt, officiating. A recording of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Lisa’s obituary. Burial will follow in the Ingemann Cemetery, Moorhead, Iowa. Visitation will be 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Mary Lisa was born September 17, 1961, in Denison, Iowa. She was the second daughter of Donald H. Jensen and Ann Carlyle Jensen. Lisa grew up in Denison, Iowa, graduating with the class of 1980. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Rose of Lima in Denison, Iowa.

On November 27, 1981, Lisa married Alan Johnson of Moorhead, Iowa. To this union three sons Nicholas, Michael, and Aaron were born. Nicholas and Michael were premature twins that were gravely ill at birth and continued with health and learning issues throughout their school years. Lisa loved her boys and did all she could to keep them all healthy and learning.

She had an in-home daycare for most of their lives at home and continued after moving back to Moorhead and her beloved granddaughter, Lauryn was born in 2012. She never wanted anyone else to raise her kids, so she chose to raise so many more.

Lisa loved music and playing the guitar, singing in various community and church choirs, teaching and playing music for Sunday School while her boys were going and even after they left home. She loved the Bethesda Lutheran Church and was an active member serving in BLCW, church council, and Sunday School. She loved to cook for her family and friends, even made baby food for her own kids and all her daycare kids.

She loved baking bread, cooking, and trying new recipes. She also loved giving her food as gifts and all she served welcomed her dishes made with love and pixie dust. When her granddaughter was born, she put her gift of writing to good use writing books of stories about her granddaughter and making them into books with pictures of her granddaughter and her friends. She loved her husband and did her best to care for him, be his true friend, helpmate, and love. She always told him she had everything she wanted and needed, and he would joke that she didn’t require much.

Lisa found it very easy to make friends. She had so many that found her so important. Her greatest joy came from the group of girls she began to cultivate in elementary school through high school. Unlike many friendships they always stayed in touch. As their children grew, they were given more time to reconnect, small trips, get-togethers, lunches, and sleepovers that were planned. Much to their surprise they got along even better than they did as girls. There is magic in making a friend. She knew these girls’ parents, siblings, boyfriends, husbands, children, and they shared the joys of their grandchildren. Lisa fell in love with these girls as a child and this group of women is what love looks like. She was so very grateful for the time she got to spend with them and for the blessing to have them in her life.

Survivors include her husband, Alan Johnson; children, Nick Johnson, Mike Johnson, and Aaron (Cassie) Johnson; grandchildren, Lauryn, Jagger, and baby Johnson on the way; sisters, Linda (Jim) Reid, and Andrea (Joe) Lee; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Steve) Eby; brother-in-law, Gale (Kris) Johnson; special aunt, Janice Carlyle; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She is preceded is death by her parents Donald and Ann (Carlyle) Jensen; and her parents-in-law, Howard and Bernice (Frost) Johnson.