Donna Johnson

November 19, 1916 - June 12, 2012

Donna C. Johnson, 95, of the Eastern Star Masonic Home passed away at the Boone County Hospital on Saturday morning, June 9, 2012. She had been a resident at the Home since September of 2008. She was born on November 19, 1916 in Bradgate, Iowa the daughter of Harper and Harriet (Muench) Daniel. Donna was a graduate of Bradgate High School, where she enjoyed participating in six-players girls’ basketball. She and her mother moved to Boone in 1941, where they operated the Red, White and Blue Café, later known as The Cookie Jar in West Boone. During World War II, Donna worked at the Ordinance Plant in Ankeny. In 1943, she married Charles Larson. To this union, two children were born; Linda Ann and Richard Lee. Charles passed away on August 11, 1949. On January 3, 1954, she married Homer Johnson in Boone. The couple farmed in northern Boone County and later owned and operated the H&D Kawasaki motorcycle dealership, first on their farm and later moving it to West Boone, where they continued to operate until 1987. She was a member of the Mineral Ridge Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church in Boone. Her parents; husbands Charles Larson and Homer Johnson; a twin brother Donald and brothers Chuck and Loren; a sister Alta; a son Richard Larson; a grandson Jodi Larson; and a great-great-granddaughter Taylor Gavagni preceded her in death. Survivors include her daughter Linda Ann Herrick and husband Earl of Boone; 2 step-daughters Linda Rae Randall and husband Dale of Lincoln, Nebraska and Jody Herman and husband Tom of West Des Moines, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren. The family wishes to extend their deep appreciation to Dr. Sascha Parsons and the staffs at the Boone County Hospital and Iowa Hospice of Central Iowa for their loving care and compassion. Following her wishes, the body has been cremated. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday afternoon, June 12th at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Boone with Rev. Jerry Bertelson officiating. Private interment for the family will be in the Linwood Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Eastern Star Masonic Home Chapel on Tuesday morning, June 12th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with the family present during that time to greet friends. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial may direct their gift to the First Baptist Church, Boone County Hospital Auxiliary or Iowa Hospice of Central Iowa.