Diane Rae Johnson
March 31, 1958 - August 7, 2017

Diane Johnson, age 59, of Blanchard, Iowa, entered into peace Monday, August 7, 2017 at her residence rural Blanchard, Iowa. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 11, 2017 at Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa with Rev. Dan Wiebesiek officiating. Visitation with the family will be held 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa. Burial will be at a later date at Dallas Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Southwest Iowa Humane Society. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa. Diane Rae Johnson was born March 31, 1958 in Clarinda, Iowa, the daughter of James "Keith" Whipp and Dolores "Dorie" (Scott) Whipp. She was the youngest of four children. Diane grew up in the New Market area and graduated from New Market High School in 1976. She was united in marriage July 23, 1976 at the New Market Christian Church to Kenneth Edwin "Ed" Johnson, Jr. They were blessed with three children, Shana, Heather and Keenan. Ed and Diane were married 41 years and 2 weeks. Diane had a varied working career, following graduation she worked at the MHI as a switchboard operator and then as a secretary at the ASCS office in Clarinda. She also then worked at KQIS and KMA radio stations as a reporter. Diane worked most recently at the Lisle Corporation for twenty five years. Her primary occupation was being a mom to her children and loved being a grandma. Diane had many interests and activities. She enjoyed traveling and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles with Ed as they traveled everywhere from Panama to Canada and Alaska. She enjoyed spending winters in Texas and going to Iowa Hawkeye football games. Diane loved to work in her workshop making all sorts of amazing arts and crafts, antler art and furniture. She was the original "up cycler" before it was cool Diane's selfless capacity for love knew no bounds. She cared for her parents in the years before they found peace and would drop anything to be there for her children in a time of need. That same love endeared her to her grandchildren who would later forego their summer in favor of returning their grandmother's love by staying with her 24x7 and helping her with anything she needed or wanted. Anyone who was fortunate enough to spend any amount of time with her knew immediately they had found someone truly special. Her love did not end with people however as she loved the serenity of nature and all the animals within and for the four years she battled cancer, her love never once took a break, it only grew stronger. Preceding Diane in death were her parents; grandparents; father-in-law, Kenneth Johnson; son-in-law, Master Sergeant Andrew Garrett; aunts, Patti Runyan, Becky King and Margie Kenagy; uncle, Russell Scott; cousin, Kelly Hook. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ed Johnson of Blanchard, Iowa; children, Shana Garrett and friend Dennis Peterson, Heather Sharr and husband Aaron, Keenan Johnson and wife Misty all of Clarinda, Iowa; grandchildren, Lanie Garrett, Phoebe Garrett, Haidyn Garrett, Janessa Jacobs, Jalyn Sharr, Ava Sharr, Madelyn Sharr, Mylie Sharr, Riley Heuer, Henrik Heuer, Edwin Johnson; mother-in-law, Joyce Johnson of Blanchard, Iowa; brother, Dave Whipp and wife Vicki of Clarinda; sisters, Debra Carlson and husband Rolland of Clarinda and Denise Shepard and husband Phil of New Market, Iowa; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.

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