Shirley A. Johnson

Shirley A. Johnson, age 78, of Decorah died Monday, March 24, 2014 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 28, 2014 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA with Rev. Dave Sorenson and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery in late spring. Visitation will begin at 1 P.M., one hour before the service, at the church on Friday. Shirley Ann Johnson was born on May 9, 1935, in Waukon, IA to Elmer and Emma (Bechtel) Snitker, the youngest of eleven children. She was baptized September 11, 1935 and confirmed on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church, rural Waukon, IA. She was a 1953 graduate of Waukon High School and received her Surgical Tech degree from NICC in Calmer, IA On January 25, 1964 Shirley was married to Donald Johnson in Prosper, MN. She worked as a surgical tech at Decorah Hospital for 30 years and was active in ladies groups at Decorah Lutheran Church. She was also a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers: Irvin, Lawrence, Walter, Merlin, Robert, James and Ben; two sisters: Arlene Deeny and Gert Hangartner. Shirley is survived by her husband, Donald of Decorah; one daughter, Debra (Charlie) Coffey of Decorah; three grandsons, Ryan Coffey of Boston, Mass, Joseph and Mathew Coffey of Decorah; one sister, Marion Wirkler on Monona, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Association or organization of choice.