Grace Marilyn Johnson

May 2, 1928 - May 9, 2024

Visitation

• Date: May 25, 2024
• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Location: First Lutheran Church - St. Ansgar, Iowa

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Funeral Service

• Date: May 25, 2024
• Time: 11:00 a.m.
• Location: First Lutheran Church - St. Ansgar, Iowa

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Burial

• Date: May 25, 2024
• Location: Rock Creek Cemetery - Osage, Iowa

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Grace (Sorlien) Johnson, 96, of St. Ansgar passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Celebration of life services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar with Pastor Christopher B. Staley officiating. Inurnment will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery, Osage. A gathering of family and friends will be 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Parish Center in St. Ansgar. Grace Marilyn Sorlien was born May 2, 1928, in Spring Grove, MN to S. Olvin Sorlien and Selma Burreson Sorlien. She was the third of seven children in the family. Her early childhood was in Max ND where her father was a Lutheran minister during the Depression. In 1937 they moved to Rake IA and later to Decorah and Rock Creek near Osage IA. Grace’s education was at schools in Max ND, Rake, Decorah, and Osage, IA where she graduated in 1946. She then attended Luther College and graduated in 1952. Work experiences during her college years were being a telephone operator in Mason City, working at the knitting mill in Osage, and teaching at a rural school in Mitchell County. Grace met Norbert Johnson during her senior year of high school at Osage and married him on Dec. 20th, 1952. They farmed in north Floyd County for five years and then moved to the farm east of St. Ansgar, IA in 1958. They raised their family with five children- David, Gary, Marc, Eric, and Linda- on the farm and moved into St. Ansgar in 1993 when Norbert retired from farming. During these years Grace also taught school – 5thgrade in Osage, junior high in Rudd, 4th grade in Grafton, and retired in 1990 after teaching 4th grade in St. Ansgar for 20 years. Grace was active in church and community organizations. At First Lutheran Church she was active in her circle, the choir, hand bells, and Bible studies. For many years she served as the coordinator for the local blood drive. Other organizations she was active in were the American Legion Auxiliary, IC Club, and Sons of Norway. . Grace is preceded in death by her husband Norbert, son Eric, parents, brothers John Sorlien and Paul Sorlien, and sisters Naomi Jasmer and Eunice Chomicz. Survivors include sons, David (Mary Jo) Johnson of Bethlehem PA, Gary of Houston, TX, Marc (Becky) Johnson of Ankeny, IA, daughter, Linda of Baltimore, MD, grandchildren, Amy (Hunter) Neblett, Jill (Brian) Clennon, and Holly (Andrew) Nixt, great-grandchildren Caroline Neblett, Parker Clennon, Brayden Nixt, Landon Nixt, Carson Nixt, and Harrison Nixt. Also surviving are sisters Ruth Larson and Lois Fossen, sisters-in-law Sandra Sorlien and Muriel Johnson, brother-in-law Tom Chomicz, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar First Responders, Mitchell County Historical Society (809 Sawyer Dr, Osage IA 50461), or a charity of your choice in remembrance of Grace. The family extends sincere thanks to the Good Samaritan staff for the care and support provided during the last years of Grace’s life. Champion Funeral Homes, Osage, 641-732-3706