Madge Johnson

Madge Johnson, 95 Kearney resident Madge Johnson, 95, of Kearney died Friday, October 28, 2016 at Brookdale Northridge in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kearney. The Rev. Chad Anderson will officiate. Interment will follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Axtell. Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kearney. Condolences may be shared online www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Madge Elizabeth Johnson was born on a farm two miles east of Wilcox, Nebraska on July 7, 1921. Madge joined her family and friends in Heaven on October 28, 2016. She was 95. Madge was the oldest of five children. Her parents were Vernon and Jessie Lemmert Jackson. Her other siblings were Roy, Elgin, Nova, and Don. When Madge was seven, the family moved to a farm near Hildreth, Nebraska, and then to a home in Axtell, Nebraska at age 16. Madge attended school in Wilcox for grades 1-2 and 5-8. She attended school in Hildreth for grades 3-4 and 9-11. A Hildreth family made arrangements for Madge to stay with them. That enabled her to go to high school. She eventually graduated from Axtell High School. Madge married Burdette Johnson in February, 1941. They began their married life on a farm near Axtell. Madge and Burdette adopted a son, Gary, during World War II. After the War, Gary’s father returned to home and decided to raise Gary. A few years later in 1950 Madge and Burdette adopted Roger. Although Roger and Gary never met, they shared the same birth mother. Madge, Burdette, and Roger moved to a two room home in Kearney in 1954 where Burdette worked for Kearney Coca Cola and attended Kearney State Teachers College. Madge worked as a seamstress for Hirschfield Dress Shop. They family also lived in Cambridge, York, Stromsburg, and Lincoln. Burdette worked for farmers until they moved to Lincoln where he sold farm equipment for John Deere. Madge ran a café in Cambridge and worked for a bakery in Stromsburg. She worked for many years as a baker at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Lincoln, and then as a baking instructor at the same institution. She was able to become a teacher by working all day and then taking teaching classes at night. Burdette and Madge began making modest investments in the stock market after they moved to Lincoln. That turned out to be very beneficial for them. Madge was preceded in death by Burdette (1978) and Roger (1993) as well as Roy and Violet Jackson, Elgin and Arlene Jackson, Don Jackson (brother), and her brother in law, Frank Schulze. She is survived by her sister, Nova Schulze, and son, Gary Bailey, as well as her sister and brother in law, Mildred and Eugene Urbom. Also surviving Madge are numerous nieces and nephews including Don Jackson who looked after her and cared for her later in her life. Many cousins, friends, and other loved ones are also mourning her passing. Following Burdette and Roger’s deaths, Madge moved to Kearney where she had a house and garden on E Street. Later Madge moved to Northridge Senior Living where she lived for most the rest of her life. Madge’s desk in high school was next to Wayne Gustafson who became a life-long friend. Madge and Wayne became companions after both had lost their spouses and Madge had returned to Kearney. This significantly expanded Madge’s family. Madge was a wonderful baker, cook, gardener, and quilter. She had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and a strong zest for life. All mourning her on Earth are comforted by her ascent to join her family and friends in Heaven.

Madge Johnson

July 6, 1921 - October 28, 2016