Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth Johnson, 84, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Anderson Funeral Home, 405 W. Main St., Marshalltown. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2016 also at Anderson Funeral Home, 405 W. Main St., Marshalltown. Interment will take place in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com

Beth was born on September 23, 1931, in Fairfield, Iowa, the daughter of Homer and Florence Glattfelder, and the youngest of three children.

Beth attended Fairfield High School where she enjoyed singing in the choir, playing the piano, and participating in the state spelling bee. After graduating, Beth studied at the Mercedian School of Nursing at St. Thomas Mercy Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa, where she met the love of her life, Gerald “J.J.” Johnson, on a blind date. Three months later, on July 26, 1952, they were married. Beth and J.J. began their family shortly thereafter and had six children together.

After earning her nursing degree, Beth began her career at St. Thomas Mercy Hospital, and later worked alongside Dr. Edison Knight for 20 years. In retirement, Beth carried on her kind, gentle bedside manner as a childcare provider with “Bessie’s Daycare,” which she operated with her husband J.J. out of their home in Marshalltown.

Throughout her honest, hard-working, and beautiful life, Beth found joy in attending church with her family, singing in the choir, baking (especially peanut butter cookies, bread, and rhubarb pie with rhubarb from J.J.’s garden), making beef and noodles (with her famous homemade pasta), going to garage sales, and watching “The Sound of Music” and “The Andy Williams Show.” Always a lady, Beth loved wearing her pink lipstick, painting her nails, and smelling of Chantilly perfume. Also quite the grammarian, her family affectionately dubbed her the “Scrabble Queen.”

Even up into Beth’s final years, months, and days of her life, she will be remembered by all for her unwavering optimism, her authentic interest in and ability to listen to others, for her love of children, her soft-spoken nature, and her warm, genuine heart of gold. Beth’s family would like to ask that, in her honor, you show someone an act of kindness today.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 64 years, Gerald “J.J.” Johnson of Marshalltown, IA; five of her six children, Jill (Craig) Brewer of Hudson Falls, NY, Julie (Ken) Harvey of Marshalltown, IA, Jeff (Linda) Johnson of Riverside, IA, Janet Johnson of Marshalltown, IA, Jenny (Andy) Bledsoe of Gladbrook, IA; 12 grandchildren, Christina (Adam) Kruzich of Mediapolis, IA, Natalie (Drew) Purcell of Indianola, IA, Nate (Stephanie) Miltenberger of Des Moines, IA, Eric (Kristin) Brewer of Waterbury Center, VT, Brent (Jodi) Brewer of Hudson Falls, NY, Levi (Hillary) Brewer of Hudson Falls, NY, Ben (Darci) Brewer of Hudson Falls, NY, Mary (Corey) Miller of Cedar Rapids, IA, Katie (Martin) Robillard of North Liberty, IA, Abby (Andy) Wilson of Denver, CO, Josey (Nick) Vasquez of Newton, IA, Jordan Bledsoe of Cedar Falls, IA; and 17 great-grandchildren. Beth now joins her daughter, Jeri Ann Miltenberger; brothers, Calvin and William (Bill) Glattfelder; and her parents, as one of God’s angels in heaven.