Jeanette Marie Johnson

Jeanette Johnson, age 81, of West Des Moines, Iowa passed away peacefully on Friday, January 22, 2021 at EveryStep Kavanagh Hospice in Des Moines. A visitation for Jeanette will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at McLarens Chapel in West Des Moines with a service to follow at 12 p.m. Following the service burial will take place at Resthaven Cemetery.

Jeanette was born September 21, 1939 to Bernard and Francis (Thomas) Hopkins in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and it was there she met the love of her life, Donald Johnson. The high school sweethearts were married in 1959 and together raised three sons. Jeanette loved her family and was a big supporter of her boys’ sporting events. She loved cats and thought of them as her family as well. Some of her fondest memories were family trips to Minnesota and Niagara Falls , and spending time with her sister, Mary. A milestone for Jeanette and Don was to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in New York.

Jeanette worked as an Assistant Cook for IMT insurance, and then started a career at Kohls in the Jewelry department until her retirement. She had a knack for gardening and the boys remember her rhubarb pies. She was a caring woman with a warm, kind heart and loved to give hugs often whispering sentiments or advice in your ear. Jeanette was a selfless woman who loved animals and especially enjoyed feeding and watching the squirrels in her backyard while working on her word search puzzles.

Left to cherish her memory include her husband of 61 years, Don Johnson; sons, Jeff (Colette) Johnson, Jim (Kristi) Johnson, and Jason Johnson; sister, Mary Tierney; grandchildren, Mike, Steve(Angelica), Emily, Jake and Kasey; her nieces and nephews Martha (Roy), Jeanne (Jim), Mary Beth, John (Carla) and Pat; several great-nieces and nephews; and her fur baby cat Jessie. She is preceded in death by her parents and cats Mork, Tippy and Boots.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Fountain West and EveryStep Hospice for the love and care Jeanette received.