Marlene Johnson

Marlene Elizabeth Dietz was born on July 2,1937 to John and Martha Dietz in WaKeeney, KS. Marlene had 3 brothers at the time, Milton the oldest, LaVerne the second oldest, and her closest brother Melvin. Her younger brother Thomas was born a few years later in 1946. Growing up around 4 boys was sometimes a challenge, and she often thought she would like to have a sister as a playmate. Since that never materialized, she decided that Tom was the next best thing since he was too young at the time to object.

She graduated from Hill City High school in 1955 and went on to Brown Mackie Business School in Salina, KS, where she met Ernie Huncovsky, the father of her first two children, Roger and Pamela. Ernie and Marlene married in 1956 and after brief residencies in Sacramento, CA, Denver, CO and Belleville, KS, they settled in Omaha, NE, where Roger and Pamela were born. In 1966 Marlene and her children relocated to Greeley, CO, where her brothers LaVerne and Melvin resided with their families.

Marlene was married to Charles Liebenau from 1967 to1970. They had a blended family of 4 children, which brought its own challenges, but their union created a lifelong friendship for the children.

In 1971 Marlene married Edward “Duane” Johnson and they had one child together, Gregory Duane. They remained together until Duane’s sudden passing in 2004, and she never remarried.

Marlene remained in Greeley for the rest of her life. She attended the First United Methodist Church and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greeley until 1972, when she committed her life to Christ Jesus and became a lifelong member of the Greeley Foursquare Church, which later became Hope Center. She remained faithful in prayer and servanthood to the Lord until her passing on December 1, 2021.

Marlene was named "Mimi" by her first grandchild Kali when she was just learning to talk and the name stuck from that point forward. Mimi was special to all of her grandchildren, who loved her dearly. Mimi had 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren at the time of her passing.

Growing up with brothers who played sports instilled a love for them in Marlene’s own life, and she was an avid fan of any and all Colorado sports teams. Her favorite was the Denver Broncos, and she was able to attend Super Bowl XXII in San Diego, CA, with her daughter to cheer the Broncos on for their first Super Bowl win.

Marlene is preceded in death by her father John, mother Martha, brothers Melvin and Tom, sisters-in-law Reah and Gaynelle, and her husband Duane Johnson. She is survived by her brother Milton and his wife Dorothy, her brother LaVerne, sister-in-law Gaylene, her son Roger Huncovsky and his wife Teresa with grandchildren, Kali & Joseph Vidito, Aaron, Olivia and Miranda, her daughter Pamela Papsdorf with grandson Dane, and her son Gregory Johnson and his wife Bambi with grandchildren Jocelyn & Joshua Gomez, CynthiaLea, Angela, Codi, Faith and Evan. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Noah and Tucker Vidito, and Aayden, Alanna and Avery McCartney. Marlene had numerous nephews and nieces, all whom she preceded.

Marlene was a very loving and caring Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Aunt who was faithful in prayer and was very generous in supporting the Church. She desired the best for everyone she knew and prayed for them accordingly led by the Holy Spirit. People sensed this about her and loved her for it. She believed in the power of prayer and the healing virtues of her Lord. She was a survivor of breast cancer, in which she recovered as a result of God’s healing power. She will be missed deeply, but is at home with Christ, worshiping and dancing today at his footstool.