JoAnn Johnson

JoAnn Johnson, age 94, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, at Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City, IA. Burial will follow at Logan Park Cemetery. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials may be made in care of the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be made by viewing JoAnn’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff, NE is entrusted with arrangements.

JoAnn was born on November 22, 1931, to Hurley and Rose (Fisher) Fouts in Sioux City. She attended school in Sioux City and spent much of her childhood with her grandparents, Frank and Rose Fisher, at Sunset Nursery and Fisher Florist. JoAnn graduated mid-year from Central High School in 1950.

She attended Briar Cliff College and later transferred to Morningside College, where she met the love of her life, Harry Johnson. JoAnn and Harry were married on October 26, 1952, beginning a beautiful partnership that lasted 71 years. During the first four years of their marriage, they lived at several Air Force bases in Texas, Kansas, and Florida while Harry served in the United States Air Force.

After his discharge, they settled on a farm near Grand Meadows, Iowa. During their years on the farm, JoAnn was the heart of the home--busy with gardening, church activities, and raising their three children. She truly embodied the spirit of a devoted farm wife. The coffee pot was always on, and there was always a delicious homemade treat ready to share. JoAnn was especially known for her wonderful cooking and baking, including her famous brownies, chocolate chip bars, apple pie and homemade angel food cake. Family and friends also fondly remember her taverns served with fresh corn on the cob from the farm.

After retiring from farm life, JoAnn and Harry moved to Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, where they lived for 14 years. In 2022, they relocated to Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In their retirement years, JoAnn and Harry enjoyed traveling across the United States and attending as many Air Force reunions as possible. Their adventures always began with a giant atlas and countless maps, carefully planned and full of excitement. They loved seeing new places, meeting new people, and reconnecting with dear friends.

JoAnn also created many treasured family traditions that continue today. Her Swedish Christmas celebrations—complete with meatballs, brown beans, lutefisk, and more—brought generations together and created lasting memories for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Our “Pomma” will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who knew and loved her.

JoAnn is survived by her children Bill (Jill) Johnson of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Fred (Tammy) Johnson of Waverly, Iowa; and Cindy (Jim) Wurr of Ankeny, Iowa; her beloved granddaughters Amy (Matt) Symes of Las Vegas, Nevada; Melissa Johnson of Ankeny, Iowa; Jessica (Dave) Allen of Runnels, Iowa; Christina Johnson of Chicago, Illinois; and Breanna (Ben) Stainbrook of Waterloo, Iowa; her great-grandchildren: Kyler and Camden Johnson; Lucy and Annie Symes; Remington and Reagan Allen; and Sebastian and Charlotte Stainbrook.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Harry Johnson; her parents, Hurley and Rose Fouts; and her brother John “Jack” Fouts.

JoAnn’s legacy of love, hospitality and family traditions will live on in all who had the joy of knowing her.