Sarah Ilene Johnson

August 9, 1926 - October 2, 2019

Sarah Ilene Johnson, 93 of Marshalltown, Iowa and former resident of Davis County, Iowa passed away on October 2, 2019 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. She was born August 9, 1926 in Davis County, Iowa to Oscar and Linnie Ellen Spurgeon Starr. She married James Edsel Johnson on August 29, 1945 in Puyallup, Washington. He passed away on September 22, 2019. Ilene was a school teacher in Davis County for several years; worked at Principal Financial in Des Moines for ten years; and co-owned and operated Johnson Ceramic Shop in Indianola, Iowa. Ilene loved spending time with her family, especially when all gathered for the holidays and the house was “bursting at the seams.” She was a member of the Monterey Christian Church where she served as Sunday School teacher and helped the ladies prepare their annual Thanksgiving Supper and various funeral dinners for people in the community. She was a 4-H leader, enjoyed sewing clothing for the kids, crocheting, and in later years she made quilts for each grandchild as they were married. Comments were heard over and over of what a “sweet” lady she was. She is survived by six children, Connie (Larry) Ramseyer of Altoona, Iowa, Debbie (Roger) Bailey of Bloomfield, James (Vindy) Johnson of Bloomfield, Sheri (Ken) Nady of Ankeny, Iowa, Doug (Marilyn) Johnson of Norwalk, Iowa, Tom (Kristin) Johnson of Indianola, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, Adam Bailey; three brothers, Gerald, Elmer, and Trenton Starr; three sisters, Lolita Jones, Beatrice Ryan, and Lucille Starr in infancy. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Pastor Marvin Martin officiating. Burial will be at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday with the family present to greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A memorial has been established to the Ankeny Senior Citizens Center in Ankeny, Iowa.