Thelma A. Johnson

Thelma A. Johnson, 92 of Wood River, died Monday, December 9, 2013 at St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island.



Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 13, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Wood River, Nebraska with the Rev. Phil Sloat officiating. Inurnment will be in Wood River Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Wood River Community Foundation. Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River is caring for the family.



Thelma A. Johnson was born September 8 1921 in Seward, Nebraska the daughter of William & Elsie (Heumann) Boeka. She received her education and grew to womanhood in Goehner, NE.



She was united in marriage to Paul G. Johnson, Sr., May 30, 1942 in the Methodist parsonage. The ceremony, preformed by his father at precisely midnight, was to avoid a proposed prank by some of Paulss friends to separate the bride and groom for a few days following the wedding, Paul and Thelma had other plans. Shortly after their marriage, World War II began and Paul was called to serve spending the next three and one half years in the South Pacific. Thelma made her home with Pauls folks who had moved to Harrison, Nebraska. The couple purchased the Harper Grocery in Wood River in 1953 later known as Johnsons Grocery, which served the community until 1980 when the couple then sold to Brannigans. They spent their retirement years wintering in Lake Havasu, AZ. She enjoyed antiques and flea markets.



She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wood River.



Those left to cherish her memories include two sons & daughters in law: Bill & Sue Johnson of Lincoln, Paul G. Jr. & Linda Johnson of Dallas, Oregon, five grandchildren: Brian Johnson of Lincoln, Mark Johnson of Phoeniz, AZ, Erik & wife, Kristen Johnson of LaGrange, Texas, Beth & husband, Kory McCracken of Red Cloud, Nebraska, Nathan Johnson of Lincoln, eight great grandchildren, Matthew, Stephanie, Samantha, Austin, Kohlton, Kamryn, Izaiah, and Alex.



She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Paul Johnson in 2003, four brothers & two sisters.



Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com