Charlene Johnson

Charlene (Char) Fae Johnson, age 82, passed away on December 17, 2021, at Hospice of the Valley at Friendship Village in Tempe, Arizona. She was born on May 26, 1939, to Herbert and Charlotte (Valley) Hanson. 

After graduating salutatorian from Crystal Lake High School in 1957, she attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa, and finished top of her class.  Char married the love of her life, Jerry Johnson, on August 1, 1959, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garner, Iowa. Jerry and Char were blessed with two sons, Dana and Darren. 

The Johnsons owned the Dairy Sweet in Belmond, Iowa for one year. While living in Truman, MN, Char worked as an insurance agent for Peoples State Agency until her retirement.  Jerry and Char moved to Mesa, AZ, in 2004.  While living in Arizona, Char worked in the cafeteria at Marcos de Niza High School, where many of the students lovingly referred to her as “Grandma” and she kept spare change in her pocket in case any of the students were short on lunch money. Char loved the Arizona weather and often said her perfect temperature was 100 degrees, something that drove her family crazy when they came to visit!  

Jerry and Char enjoyed watching Darren coach wrestling at a number of area high schools, becoming permanent fixtures at wrestling meets all over the state and often volunteering to make food for the coaches and referees in the hospitality room.  Witnessing Darren get his doctorate was one of her happiest moments. 

Over the years, Jerry and Char made several trips to Green Bay, WI. They loved watching Dana in court and were so proud when he was named Deputy District Attorney of the Year.  Jerry and Char enjoyed spending quality time with Dana and Kristen during their frequent trips to Arizona. 

After Jerry’s passing Char began to embrace technology, reading books on her Nook, watching movies and shows on her iPad, and FaceTiming with her family.  She especially loved talking to her best friend and sister, Jill, on the phone multiple times a day!

Char is survived by her sons Dana (Kristen) Johnson and Darren (April) Johnson; her grandchildren Macayla, Kalkidan, Jayda, and Carter; and her sisters Lorrie (Bernie) Formanek and Jill Anderson. Char was preceded in death by her parents; sister Pat; and her beloved husband Jerry who she is now reunited with just in time for Christmas. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her and loved her. 

Special thanks to Hospice of the Valley for their excellent care and compassion. The family requests that memorial tributes be sent to Dana Johnson at 308 S. Quincy Street, Green Bay, WI 54301.