Iris C. (Mogensen) Johnson

Iris C. Johnson, 96, of Parma Heights, OH passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025 in Findlay, OH. Her devoted son Mark was by her side. Iris Colleen Mogensen was born on December 10, 1928 at the Mogensen ranch in Garfield County, Nebraska. Iris was preceded in death by her dear husband Jerome (Jerry) A. Johnson. Surviving are her sister Ila Williams, her children Mark (Mary) Johnson of Findlay, OH; Kimberly (Dave) Carr of Atlanta, GA; and Colleen (Ed Hoge) Johnson of Warsaw, OH; her granddaughters Jeramey (Matt) Shaw, Abigail Johnson, Brianne Carr, Morgan Carr, and Shelby (Zach) Strohl; and great granddaughters Millie and Emmie Shaw.

Iris graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in June 1945 at age 16. She turned down a scholarship to Dennison College, opting to continue her secretarial work in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She met Jerry at a dance in 1947, and they were married on November 24, 1949 in Council Bluffs. While Jerry was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and stationed in Arlington, VA, Iris worked as a messenger at the Pentagon. Iris and Jerry returned to Omaha after Jerry’s discharge from the service in 1952 to begin their lives as a family. For 59 years the family lived in Parma Heights, OH where Jerry worked as an aerospace engineer for NASA. During this time she raised three children, attended Cuyahoga Community College and went on to work and manage a retail dancewear store. She was the best “Nana” ever to her 5 devoted granddaughters.

Iris had many interests including traveling with friends, playing bridge, attending local theater, and reading. She was an expert antique collector and dealer. With her daughter, Kim, she operated an antique shop in Avon, OH for several years. Foremost she loved to play tennis, participating and competing in Inter-club and USTA leagues well into her later years.

She loved the Christmas holidays and decorated her colonial home so beautifully every year to host the family. Nana will be sorely missed by all.

Her family thanks all of those who were there for her in her last days.

A memorial mass will be held at 10am on June 23, 2025 at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 3100 Old Weymouth Road, Medina, OH 44256. Interment will follow at 1:45pm at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, OH.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Martyrs Catholic Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.

The Bauer Funeral Home, Valley City, has the honor of serving the Johnson family.

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