Jolene was born January 8, 1943 in York, Nebraska to Herbert and Annie Franz. She grew up on the farm in Henderson, Nebraska and graduated from Henderson High School. Jolene accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized in a Mennonite church. She also attended Bethel College in Newton, Kansas where she received an associate degree. She was united in marriage to Dennis Johnson from Meno, Oklahoma on Sept. 17th, 1966 and they were married for 56 years. Jolene and Dennis lived in Oklahoma City where she worked for Hartford Insurance Company. They moved to Denver, Colorado in 1967 followed by a move to Greeley in 1972 where Jolene continued to work in the insurance industry and soon raised their daughter Denise. In 1982, she and Dennis started their own licensed home child care. Jolene spent the next 40 years caring for children and their families. They moved to Evans, Colorado in 2019 where she continued to care for children even in her retirement. She often received letters from past child care families, explaining how she impacted their lives and thanked her. She was very involved in caring for her grandchildren, attending their extracurricular activities, and watching over them as they grew up. She loved baking for her neighbors and family members, as well as attending community concerts and contributing in the meal ministry through Christ Community. Jolene prided herself in her family and was their biggest cheerleader.
She is united in heaven with her parents and nephews Kerry and David Johnson. She is survived by her husband Dennis Johnson, their daughter Denise (Dean) Shannon, her grandchildren, Kaylee, Kyndall, and Joshua, brother Lowell (Deb) Franz, niece Mary Plock, nephew Michael Franz, and brother in laws, Robert (Myrna) Johnson and Merlyn (Jan) Johnson.
Jolene’s interment will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 3400 W. 28th Street; Greeley, Colorado. This will be followed at 3:00 p.m. by a Reception and Celebration of Life at Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th Street; Greeley, Colorado.
Contributions in Jolene's memory may be made to Pathways Hospice, c/o Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stoddardsunset.com for the Johnson family.
