March 19, 2024

Arlene Johnson

June 22, 2017

Arlene Hoffert Johnson, 94, of Grinnell, died Thursday, June 22, 2017, at the Mayflower Health Care Center in Grinnell.

A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 27 at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. Organist will be Juli Bey. Casket bearers will be Chad Agnew, Jack Johnson, Kaden Moore, Marty Hoffert, Jamie Hoffert and Jeff Rose. Honorary bearers will Kameron Moore, Will Agnew, Matthew Agnew and Joseph Rothschild. Interment will be in the Lakeview Section of Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Friends may call beginning at 2 p.m. Monday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and the family will be present at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. Memorials may be directed to the Arlene Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit a female athletic scholarship and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Arlene was born March 4, 1923, in rural Jasper County, to Arthur and Kathryn Hummel Hoffert. She graduated from Bussey High School with the Class of 1941.

On June 26, 1942, she was united in marriage to Merton Johnson in Kirksville, Mo. The couple lived in Grinnell, where she worked in food service of the Grinnell-Newburg School District until her retirement in the late 90s.

Arlene was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Lady Elks and the NARFE. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, knitting and traveling throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Survivors include her children, Nancy (Dan) Agnew of Grinnell, Cathy (Ed) Womer of Duncannon, Pa., and Art (Sue) Johnson of Grinnell; five grandchildren, Chad Agnew of Oak Park, Ill., Heather (Dennis) Agnew-Moore of Grinnell, Alana (Jim) Van Zandingham of Martinsburg, W.V.,  Jennifer (Nathan) Rothschild of Gainesville, Fla., and Jack (Brandy Rinck) Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; five great grandchildren, Kaden, Kameron, Will, Matthew and Joseph; one sister, Sandra (Rich) Elliott of Grinnell; and her adopted grandson, Adam Kinnear.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1977; two sisters, Genevieve Doane and Helen Owens; three brothers, Carl, Jim and Rollin Hoffert; and great-grandson, Kaleb Moore.