Virginia "Ginny" A. Johnson

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Virginia “Ginny” Johnson, 92, of Pierce, formerly of Pilger, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk, with Reverend Greg Rathke officiating. A private family burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery, rural Albion. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, at Stonacek Funeral Chapel. The service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel website at https://www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/virginia-ginny-johnson-3/#!/PhotosVideos. Ginny passed away peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the Wakefield Health Care Center, surrounded by her loving family. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is handling the arrangements. Virginia Ann Johnson was born on January 23, 1933, in a farmhouse near Loretto, Nebraska, to J.B. and Valma (Myers) Barnes. She was baptized at the Loretto United Methodist Church and later confirmed at the Albion United Methodist Church. Ginny attended District 13 Elementary School (southwest of Loretto) before her family moved to Albion. She attended Albion Jr. High School and graduated from Albion High School in 1950. Ginny graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1954, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and majored in Home Economics. After college, she taught school in Nebraska and Colorado for four years before becoming a TWA stewardess. Ginny continued in that career until she married her childhood sweetheart, Don Johnson, on October 25, 1959, at the United Methodist Church in Albion and honeymooned in Paris. Following their marriage, Ginny and Don lived in Indiana and Iowa while Don worked as a territory manager for Dekalb Seed. In 1962, they moved to Pilger, Nebraska where they put down roots. Don had a distinguished career at Farmers National Bank, now Midwest Bank, and Ginny was a devoted wife and mother to their children Lori, Karen and Doug. Ginny was a dedicated member of Pilger Methodist Church for 46 years. She sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School, and was actively involved in various church committees. Ginny enjoyed playing cards, traveling, shopping, cooking, but was known to most as a passionate sports fan – particularly of Husker sports. Most of all though, she cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, attending all their games, events and celebrations. Ginny is survived by her daughters, Lori (Mike) Minert of Pender, Karen (Ryan) Rathke of Grand Island, and her son, Douglas (Stacy) Johnson of Pierce; grandchildren: Megan (Roger) Ray, Drew (Chelsea) Minert, McKenzie (Reid) Ely, Garrett (Anna) Rathke, Jenna (Andrew) Mitchell, Jordan (Whitney) Rathke, Hannah Rathke, Ashton (Trent) Spieker, Ali Johnson, Annie Johnson, and Addison Johnson; great-grandchildren: Carter and Charlie Ray, Kylar, Broxton, Liam, Madyn, MacKenna, and Maverick Ely, Gianna and Xander Minert, Carson and Maren Mitchell, Nora and Otto Rathke, Teegan Rathke, and Avie and Millie Spieker; her brother, Dick (Penny) Barnes of Lincoln; and her sister, Mary (J.V.) Nicodemus of Atlanta, GA. Ginny was preceded in death by her husband, Don Johnson; her parents, J.B. and Valma Barnes; a brother, John Barnes; a nephew, Darin Barnes; and in-laws, Jeanne and Gale Jacobsen, and Tom and Doris Johnson. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Virginia "Ginny" A. Johnson

January 23, 1933 - February 7, 2025