Donna Mae Emma Johnson

Donna Mae Johnson passed away Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the Scandia House in Pine City at the age of 87.

Donna Mae Emma Mans was born February 11, 1932 to Fred and Clara (Witt) Mans in Beroun; the sixth child of seven.  In 1936, Donna’s mother passed away.  Her father was unable to care for all the children; Donna lived with her Aunt Nora in Minneapolis until the age of 11.  It was the year she was 11 that her father remarried she was able to return to the family farm.  Fred married Mary Singer; Mary joined the Mans family with 3 children and she and Fred would add two more siblings to the family.  Donna attended the Milburn Country School and later attended and graduated from Pine City High School.

Donna met the love of her life Arnold Johnson and on June 11, 1949 they were married.  Donna worked as waitress at the Topic Ballroom in Pine City.  After the Topic closed, Montgomery Ward’s Catalog Sales moved in and Donna continued to work many years for the catalog company.  Donna sold Avon products off and on over the years and provided her family with Avon lotions at Christmas.  She always had moisturizing cream if someone was sunburned; it really did help.  They enjoyed Saturday night polka dancing at the Pine Camp Ballroom; traveled to Gibbons, Minnesota with Wally and Fern Mayer where they would spend the weekend enjoying polka dances.  Together they hosted many card parties with their Rock Creek friends.  Donna was a member of the Rock Homemakers and a 60+ year member of the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City.  Her church was very important to her and she remained very active until just a few years ago.  She was a true “church lady” and a faithful member of the Women of the ELCA taking part in many activities over the years.    

In 1964, Donna was employed at the Pine County Court House in the Auditor’s Office; retiring in 1991.   Retirement gave her the time to spend with her rose garden; flower garden of perennials and the many pots of impatiens that lined the walkway to her front door.  She was the one that trimmed the trees and used a push mower because Arnie couldn’t get close with the riding lawnmower.  Her flowers and lawn always looked amazing.

Arnie and Donna enjoyed traveling with friends and family.  They visited Hawaii; Door County and the Black Hills with Harold and Dee Baum; Florida with Dennis and Vicki. If an additional driver was needed Kathy was there to assist; traveling to Branson and then on to see Elvis in Memphis.

While living at the Scandia House, Donna enjoyed visits from a music therapist; she always sang along with them.  Her food tastes changed as her health declined and she just wanted eggs, potato pancakes and toast; she never turned down ice cream. 

Donna is survived by her loving husband Arnie Johnson of Rock Creek; children Dennis (Vicki) Johnson of Pine City, Kathy Johnson of Lino Lakes, Debra Londgren of Braham, Doug (Shawn) Johnson of Rock Creek; 9 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sisters Margie Pavek and Vonnie (Richard) Buckley; sisters-in-law Aggie Mans Eull, Marlene Singer and Mae Singer; brother-in-law Dick Henderson; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Clara Mans; brothers Raymond (Betty) Mans, Donald Mans; sisters Bernyce (Gordy) Niles, Ilene (George) Hejny, Delores (Harold) Hejny; and Carole Henderson; brother-in-law Ray Pavek; step-mother Mary Mans; step-sister Rosie (Wilbur) Werner; step-brothers Bill Singer, Joe Singer and infant grandson Patrick Johnson.

Reverend Dr. Vicki VanderVegt will officiate funeral services for Donna: 11 AM; Friday, January 3, 2020 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City.  A time of visitation is planned from 4-7 PM Thursday (1/2/20) at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City and also one hour prior to the service at the church.  The interment will take place in Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com