Maurine L. Johnson

Maurine L. Johnson, Lincoln, age 85, passed away on November 16, 2018 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was born January 13, 1933 in Sioux City, Iowa, to William and Ora Beermann Morgan.

She attended Brushy Bend rural school in Dakota County, Nebraska as a child, and then graduated from South Sioux City (Nebraska) High School in 1951. The Morgans were farmers who lived quite a distance from school, making it necessary for Maurine to stay with family friends in town during the winter to attend high school. After high school graduation, she worked in a financial firm in South Sioux City. In 1955, Maurine married Frederic B. Gibbs, The couple had one son, Gregory, and later divorced. In the 1960s, Maurine and Greg moved to Lincoln where she worked as a teller at the National Bank of Commerce. During this time, Maurine met Galen L. Johnson at a Parents Without Partners event. They married in 1969, and the couple moved to Dorchester, Nebraska that same year when he became superintendent of schools there. They resided in Dorchester for 26 years where Maurine and Galen were involved in numerous community, school, and Dorchester United Methodist Church activities. Maurine began a 25-year career at Doane College (now Doane University) in 1970. Her first position was as secretary in the Office of Student Affairs. After four years in that role, she became Executive Assistant to the President, and served Presidents Philip Heckman and Frederic Brown. In her position in the President’s Office, Maurine shouldered many responsibilities in addition to keeping the office running smoothly. She was involved in several major fund-raising campaigns, assisted in planning board meetings, special events and conferences, and was a long-time co-director of the Elderhostel program. In 1995, Maurine and Galen retired and moved to Lincoln. In retirement, they traveled throughout the United States and abroad, were involved in the Christ United Methodist Church, and in other community activities. Maurine enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, traveling, reading, sewing, and knitting. She and Galen were both avid Husker fans, and faithfully followed the UNL football and volleyball teams. Maurine was a kind and generous person, a good friend to many, and will be greatly missed. Maurine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Galen in 2014, and a sister Miriam Schneider. She is survived by sons Gregory W. Gibbs (Karen), Maple Valley, WA; John S. Johnson (Margaret), McKinney, TX; and Donald E. Johnson, Euliss, TX; grandchildren Alexander and Gabrielle Gibbs, Jason Johnson (Erika), Fort Worth, TX; Christopher Johnson (Cari), Garland, TX; two great-grandchildren Mallory and Meredith Johnson; one sister, Katherine Shelly, South Sioux City, NE, nephew William M. Shelly (Lori), Littleton, CO; niece Elizabeth A. Anderson, South Sioux City, NE; great nephews, Morgan and Taylor Shelly; numerous cousins, and many close friends. A celebration of life service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A Street, Lincoln on Monday, November 26 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow. Interment will be at 1:45 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Park, 6800 South 14th Street. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Christ United Methodist Church, Lincoln, and the Dorchester United Methodist Church.