Lavonne "Bonnie" Johnson

Lavonne “Bonnie” Johnson, 83, of Waukon died Monday, July 30, 2018 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 7 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.

Lavonne Jean “Bonnie” Johnson was born December 27, 1934 in Waukon, the daughter of Joseph Conrad and Cora Adeline (Kolsrud) Lier. She was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1952.

September 28, 1963, she married Wayne Carlton Johnson at the Old West Paint Creek Church. In addition to being a busy mother of five children, Bonnie worked a number of different jobs. Her first was at Cronin Variety Store in Waukon, affectionately known in its day as “the Little Dime Store”. After that she spent many years working for the Waukon Greenhouse. Finally, she was a dispatcher for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1999.

Bonnie was an active member of Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, participating in Ladies Aid and Circle as well as teaching Sunday School. She maintained a welcoming home and was an excellent cook and baker. When time allowed, she enjoyed dancing and playing cards with family and friends. After retiring she spent time doing needlework, embroidery, cross-stitch and quilting and looked forward to meeting her friends most mornings for coffee.

Bonnie’s home was a special place during the Christmas season, her favorite time of year, when she would decorate with the many Santas she collected over the years and spend time in the kitchen making a variety of Norwegian holiday treats to celebrate her heritage. Bonnie loved her family dearly and hosting or attending family events and being with her grand- and great-grandchildren were her favorite times.

Bonnie was an avid sports fan. She attended as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s events as possible over the years, and if the Hawks or Cubs were playing, she was watching. Unfortunately, Bonnie suffered a stroke in 2003 which limited her mobility. However, due to the dedication and devotion of her husband, Wayne, along with other family members, she remained at home and continued to share her time with those she loved most.

Survivors include her husband, Wayne, of Waukon; her five children: Melissa Johnson of Marion, Michelle “Mikki” Stegen of Lansing, and Richard (Jackie) Johnson, Melanie (Lynn) Stock and Robert Johnson, all of Waukon; nine grandchildren: Ashley Mitchell, Brandon and Devin Johnson, Tyler and Morgan Stegen, Brittany Johnson, and Samuel, Seth and Elyse Stock; three great-grandchildren, Elijah Jannsen, Kenleigh Ness and Bexley Mitchell; three siblings: Bob (Jacquie) Lier of Shelbyville, KY, Joann (Gene Dee) Holder of Cedar Rapids and Randy Lier of Waterville; and three sisters-in-law: Donna Johnson of Ft. Myers, FL, JoAnn Tangen of Dorchester and Gerry (Peter) Statler of Chicago, IL. She is preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Janet; her brothers-in-law, Arlynn “Butch” Johnson and John Tangen; and a sister-in-law, Joanne Lier.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.