Donna R. Johnson

Donna R. Johnson, age 85 of Lincoln, formerly of Wahoo, died Thursday February 15, 2024 in Lincoln. She was born April 12, 1938 in Wahoo to Martin and Bernice (Otto) Schwenck. On September 11, 1940, Donna won the Grand Championship Ribbon in The Better Babies Contest at the Saunders County Fair earning an overall score of 97. Donna grew up in Wahoo and graduated from Wahoo High School after which she attended nursing school. On August 24, 1958, she married Jim Johnson in Ceresco.

Donna was a homemaker and cared for other children while raising her own. She helped her husband study for the City of Lincoln Arborist Examination which resulted in him passing the exam with the highest score in the class. Later she worked, for many years, in data entry at Tier One Bank. Donna and Jim hosted foreign exchange students from various countries. Their relationships with these students transcended time and allowed Donna and Jim to travel the world to visit them years later. Following Jim’s death April 18, 2017, Donna spent much of her time caring for her mother who died earlier this month at the age of 103.

Donna is survived by her son Scott (Jeri) Johnson of Ceresco; daughter Shelli (Brian) Schaeffer of Ceresco; grandchildren Tameka (Jason) Burcham of Raymond, Ben Schaeffer of Lincoln, and Parker Johnson of Ceresco; great-grandchildren Brielle Tyson and Harmony Burcham; sister Vonnie (Norman) Klassen of Bingham Lake, MN; aunt Virginia Johnson of Wakefield, NE; AFS sons and daughters Bernard Godeaux of Belgium, Helio Abreu of Brazil, Stefan Behra of Germany, and Toke Beeksman of The Netherlands.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bernice Wiese, Martin Schwenck, Raymond Wiese; husband Jim Johnson; daughter Linda Johnson; and brother Gayle Schwenck. Memorials may be given, in memory of Donna, to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wahoo. Donna’s family plans a private service.