Johanna Amundson

Johanna H. Anderson Amundson died peacefully early on February 4, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Center in West Union, IA just 10 days before her 91^stbirthday. 

Johanna Helen, daughter of Rudolph Richard Anderson and Blanch Cynthia Hines Anderson, was born February 13, 1929 on a farm near Miller, South Dakota. She loved the outdoors, rode horse bareback, & helped her folks on the farm. Johanna attended a rural school grades 1-8, then graduated from Miller High School in 1947, participating as yearbook editor, chief librarian and president of the library club. She worked for a year in banking, first in Miller then in Minneapolis, where she’d moved with her sister, Madeline.  Johanna attended Bethel Bible College in St. Paul, MN 1948-’49. She taught in a country school, likely in South Dakota. She attended Iowa State Teachers’ College (now UNI), in Cedar Falls 1950-’54 with some interruptions to teach in primary grade schools in southern Iowa.  In March of ’54, classmate Harriet Juhl (Blockhus) arranged a roller skating date with a Clermont farmer, Clarence Amundson. Smiles lit up the rink and the rest is history…they were married September 18, 1954 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  She was confirmed at the East Clermont Lutheran after they settled in the Clermont area.

Having lived their 1st year in Clermont, they moved to a farm “below” the East Clermont Lutheran Church. They had three children, raising them on the farm. Johanna, the homemaker, cooked, sewed, gardened, raised chickens, drove tractor, put on great birthday parties for her kids, fed “extra mouths” during harvest--to list just a few items of the “farmwife” job description.  In 1991 she and Clarence moved off the farm to a home in Clermont, and in 2012 to the Good Samaritan Home in West Union, Iowa. Despite her struggles with dementia & arthritis in later years, she always shared a wonderful smile with her caregivers and visitors. A special thank youto all those from the Good Samaritan Center and St. Croix Hospice who cared for Johanna. Your love and compassion are truly appreciated.

Johanna showed her love of children and teaching by serving 10 years as a Busy Beavers 4-H club leader and a Sunday School & vacation Bible school teacher at East Clermont Lutheran Church.  She was a women’s circle member and quilt & banner maker.  Jo and Clarence served as custodians for the church for 30 years. She was also a member of the Clermont Legion Auxiliary Post #375.  She loved camping and traveling with the family, played piano and had an artist’s eye and hand for arts/crafts, crocheting & quilting.  Her flower gardens flourished on the farm and in town.  Once moved into town, she became a religious recycler.  Her favorite role, after mother and wife, was GRANDMOTHER to her 8 grandchildren: reading, playing, helping care for, baking cookies and lefse, traveling many miles to see & hear them grow. She had the soul of a dreamer and artist, gifts we see passed on to her grandchildren.

Johanna is survived by her children, grandchildren and great grandchild: Caren (Chuck) Reaves of Missoula, MT [Allison, Rachel, Michael Reaves], Eric(Diane) Amundson of Humboldt, IA [Scott(fiancée Ansley), David, Peder Amundson] and Olin(Karen) Amundson of New Hampton, IA [Timothy, Alec (Rachel) Amundson with daughter Nora]. She is also survived by sister-in-law Ruthy Amundson of Clermont and many nieces & nephews on both the Anderson and Amundson sides.  Johanna was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, and her parents, Blanche & Rudolph; her sister Madeline Anderson and brother Richard Anderson; her brothers & sisters-in-law: Almer & Marjorie Amundson, Morris & Hildur Amundson, Art & Norma Amundson, Kenny Amundson, Norene & Gordon Landsgard.

The service for Celebration of life will be at 1:00 pm Thursday, February 13^th, with visitation 1hour prior (12:00 noon) at East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont, Iowa. Pastor Ron Roberts will officiate.  Coffee, refreshments/fellowship in the church basement and the inurnment will follow the service. 

Memorials may be sent to St. Croix Hospice, East Clermont Lutheran Church Perpetual Fund, Good Samaritan home, or a charity of your choice. Thank you.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Clermont, Iowa is assisting the family.