Beatrice JoAnn Johnson passed away Monday, June 17, 2019 in Rockford, IL. Born January 28, 1935 in Ottowa, IL. The first-born daughter of Orville Burnhardt Sands and Mary Adelaide (Johnson) Sands. JoAnn grew up around Ottawa and a farm outside Shabbona, IL and graduated from Shabbona High School. She married in 1954 and raised 6 children in the Waterman, IL area and then in 1966 the family moved to Rockford, IL. She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Rockford. Jo, as she liked to be called, loved her family, dancing, playing the piano (Tiny Bubbles…), gardening, decorating for the holidays, selling Tupperware and Avon, playing cards with her friends, and we can’t forget Elvis!
Survivors include her 6 children, Stanley (Jennifer) Johnson Jr. of Manitowoc, WI., Barbara (John) Jagdfeld of Slinger, WI, Sheryl (Mike) Drost of Roscoe, IL, Terri Johnson of Rockton, IL., James (Brenda) Johnson of Machesney Park, IL, and Donna Jones of Bass Lake, CA; 7 Grandchildren, Amber, Amy, Stuart, Annette, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Carlie; 5 Step-Grandchildren, Megan, Lesli, Jennifer, Jonathan and Jessica; 9 Great Grandchildren, Samantha, Piper, Tommy, Micheal, Annabelle, Zachary, Will, Wyatt, and Maggie; 4 Great Step-grandchildren, Riley, Madison, Bree, and Jade; Great Great step-grandchild, Peyton; 2 brothers, Douglas (Avai) Sands and Dennis (Kathi) Sands; and 2 sisters, Karen (Jim) Anderson, and Debbie (Bevin) Wold. Predeceased by her mother; father; 1 brother, Orville Sands Jr.; 1 sister, Sandra Moudy; son-in-law, Gordon Jones; and her children’s father, Stanley Johnson Sr.
Many thanks to the staff and her friends at River Bluff Nursing Home and her life-long friend Marsha Shaw. Cremation rites to be accorded. A family Celebration of Life to be held at a later date
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