Clara Johnson, 92, Rochelle, Ill.

Published 8:56 am Friday, April 12, 2013

Clara Mae (Plevka) Johnson was born May 28, 1920, to Edward and Mary (Kusy) Plevka in Hayward Township and died April 10, 2013, in Rochelle, Ill.

She was a teacher in rural schools within Freeborn County after graduating from Normal Teacher Training in Austin.

On June 14, 1942, at Hayward Lutheran Church, she married Woodrow P. Johnson. They attended church in Hayward and Adams as well as Six Mile Grove Lutheran near Lyle. They moved to Rochelle, Ill., in 1965 and attended Faith Lutheran Church, where she was involved in women’s organizations.

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She worked within Rochelle and Creston elementary schools. She was employed by Stones Hallmark store in Rochelle until retirement.

Survivors include her son, Gregg (Betty) Johnson of Lyle; daughters, Lois (Howard) Smith of Ault, Colo., Bonnie (Joe) Wright of Evanston, Wyo., Gloria (Tim) Tyler of Waterman, Ill., and Jeannie (Jon) Rohr of Ashton, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alice (Johnson) and Harvey Sathre of Adams and Richard Noterman of Sun City, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Marie McIntyre; granddaughter, Annette (McIntyre) Maggard; and brother, Joseph E. Plevka.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church in Rochelle, Ill. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Hayward Cemetery in Hayward on Tuesday. A celebration of her life will follow at Hayward Lutheran Church fellowship hall.