Jenny Johnson

Jennifer “Jenny” Anne Johnson, 25, of Kansas City, MO, passed away on April 2, 2018 at home surrounded by her family. She was born November 24, 1992 in Littleton, CO to Jeff and Susan Johnson. Her family later moved to Bedford, TX and then to Leawood, KS. Jenny was a member of the Church of the Nativity in Leawood. She graduated in 2011 from Blue Valley North High School where she swam on the Mustang team all four years and earned a varsity letter each year. She swam the 500 free at state. Jenny was on the Principal’s Honor Roll and was a member of the National Honor Society and earned academic letters all four years. She was on the Cross Country team for two years and was awarded the BVN Cross Country Best Gallop Award in 2010.

Jenny graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for Nursing majors. She loved the campus life in Fayetteville and made many life long friends in the dorm and in her sorority.

Since her graduation from college, Jenny was employed at the University of Kansas Medical Center as a registered nurse in the Cardiac Family Progressive Care Unit. She planned to continue her education in nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Jenny enjoyed running, working out, traveling and reading. She ran in many 5K, 10K and half marathon races and planned to run a marathon. Jenny loved her apartment in the Plaza and one of her favorite activities was to go on a run from her apartment to Loose Park. She had traveled extensively in Europe and was looking forward to another trip abroad to attend the Oktoberfest in Germany and visit Iceland, Spain, and Italy.

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Donald and Regina Simpson; her paternal grandfather, Robert Johnson; her cousin, Lindsey Johnson; and her uncle, Robert Simpson. She is survived by her parents, Leawood, KS; her sister, Jacqueline “Jackie” Johnson, Westwood, KS; her paternal grandmother, Bernice Johnson, Leawood, KS; her uncle Greg (Sue) Johnson, Golden, CO; her uncle Doug (Kum Sun) Johnson, Tacoma, WA; her aunt, Linda Root, Overland Park, KS; her uncle Don Simpson, St. Louis, MO; and her cousins, Ryan Johnson and Mariana Johnson.

The family wants to express their gratitude to all the staff at the University of Kansas Cancer Center for the outstanding care that they gave Jenny throughout her illness. Special thanks also go out to the Nativity Parish Family and our wonderful neighbors for their love and support.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to further melanoma research a cause that would have been dear to her heart because of her diagnosis. “Jenny’s Team” has been created for friends and family to participate in or contribute to the Outpacing Melanoma 5K Run/Walk fundraiser coming up on May 6 (outpacingmelanoma.org).

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th Street, Leawood, KS; burial in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. Rosary Service 5:30 p.m. followed by Visitation from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO.