Donna Pearl Johnson, age 76, passed away on February 13, 2024, at home surrounded by loved ones. Her final resting place will be at Angora Cemetery in Angora, Nebraska. A celebration of life gathering will occur at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel from 4-6pm on Friday, February 16, 2024. Fond memories and messages of sympathy may be left for the family at www.dugankramer.com
Donna was born on April 16, 1947 in Alliance, Nebraska to Walter and Eunice Burry. She had the pleasure of attending a one-room schoolhouse near Angora for her first two years before the family relocated to Minatare, where she attended from 2nd grade through graduation with the class of 1965. She attended business school in Denver for a year and went to work. In 1973, she moved to Alamosa, Colorado and attended Adams State University, graduating with her Business Education Degree in 1978, later achieving her master’s degree in 1986.
Donna taught business education at Alamosa High School for 25 years from 1978 until 2003. She worked in numerous jobs in retail and banking before her college years, and substituted for several years after retirement. Teaching was her passion.
Having been married the first time in 1969, one daughter, Lara Renee was born to that union—the joy of Donna’s life. One granddaughter, Dia Luna, became another huge joy! On December 21, 1997, she married Ted Johnson, her soulmate. They built a cabin in the mountains, loved camping, ATVing, walking, picking wild raspberries, and sharing their incredible view of three 14,000 foot mountains out their window. They also enjoyed several ocean cruises. The couple often escaped the cold and snow of Colorado by heading to Casa Grande, Arizona during the winter months.
Some of Donna’s hobbies and interests included Ladies’ Bible Studies; attending and hosting tea parties; and quilting. She particularly enjoyed cooking and baking, hosting friends
and family around her table. All her life, she had cats and loved her pets. Most of all, she loved attending church: Huerfano County Bible Church in Colorado and Pinal County Cowboy Church in Arizona.
Survivors include her husband, Ted Johnson; daughter, Lara Suarez of New York City; son, Michael Johnson of Alamosa, Colorado; sisters, Anita (Richard) Duncan of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Sharon (William) Jay of Jacksonville, Florida; five grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Eunice Burry; an infant brother; nephew, Timothy Jay; and step-son, Joshua Johnson.