Margaret E. Johnson, 95, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 6:30 pm, Sunday, May 24, 2020 at Wellbrooke of Wabash. She was born August 7, 1924 in Lewistown, Illinois to Ross and Lillian (Raker) Stevens.
After a chance encounter during a fishing trip with her father, Margaret met the love of her life, William Johnson, whom she married in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 1, 1943. They moved around the states during his time in the Army Air Corps and eventually settled down in Arvada, Colorado. There, they raised a family and grew a meaningful and successful business centered around supporting the troops overseas. “It’s for the boys in Vietnam” was her most used phrase during that time. From 1965 -75 Margaret would find parts and equipment to keep a US Army and Navy workshop going in Saigon during the war. Afterwards, she worked with her husband managing Western Diesel in Grand Junction, Colorado. William died July 1, 2000, and Margaret relocated to Wabash, Indiana to be closer to her daughters in 2000. She has spent the last twenty years being active and heavily involved in the community. She loved to work in her garden tending flowers and green tomatoes. She enjoyed hosting parties and playing gin rummy. She supported the Honeywell Center by attending events and parties whenever possible. Margaret’s energy and enthusiasm for life never subsided with age. Loved by all and special to so many – her wisdom, humor, civilty and love will be heavily missed and live forever in the hearts she touched.
She is survived by three children, Delbert R. (Mary) Johnson of Longmont, Colorado, Martha C. (Michael) Harding of Angola, Indiana, and Mary L. Hettmansperger of Wabash, Indiana, four grandchildren, Jenny Johnson of St. Augustine, Florida, Mark (Megan) Johnson of Castle Rock, Colorado, Abbey Fowler of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and, Logan Hettmansperger of Wabash, her great-granddaughter, Zoie Fowler of Grand Rapids, her niece, Laura (Michael Arndt) Stevens of Wabash, and many other extended family. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Robert Stevens.
Graveside services and burial will be 1 pm, CST, Thursday, May 28, 2020 at White Chapel Cemetery, 24550 N. County Road 6, Canton, Illinois. A Celebration of Life service will be held later this summer, date and location to be determined. Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service of Wabash is in charge of arrangements.
Preferred memorial is Honeywell Foundation, 275 W. Market Street, Wabash, IN 46992.
The memorial guest book for Margaret may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.