Janice Lynn Johnson

JANICE LYNN JOHNSON, age 77, of Blue Earth, died Saturday, May 20, 2017, at United Hospital District. Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017, in San Jose, California. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comShe was born July 25, 1939, at San Jose, CA, the only daughter of Wilton Allen and Vivian Amelia (Stowe) Stratton.Survivors include her children, Christer (Leilani) Johnson, Inger (Steve) Bishop, Agneta (Joe) Lesko, Debbie (Patrick) Kelly, Roger (Joy) Johnson, Kenneth (Dawn) Johnson, Kirk (Joan) Johnson, Kris (Nomi) Johnson, Dr. Aaron (Jenna) Johnson, Jared (Krista) Johnson, Vernie (William) DeMille. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern Johnson.Janice had a true "mother''s heart". She loved and lived the words of 3 John 3:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." She loved God, her husband, and she loved her children. Her greatest satisfaction was found in serving, loving, and teaching her children, and the greatest legacy she left was the love she taught them to feel and show to one another. The "yours, mine, and ours" story of her family inspired her to shower more love than it seems possible for one heart to have held on 4 unique families. Her love inspired love in return. From an early age, she learned to show her love through service. While her father recuperated from a crippling accident and her mother worked long hours to take care of her family, Janice learned to cook to ease her parents'' burden. What started as a desire to serve became a skill that blessed many. She was a skilled pianist who used her love for music to bless the lives of those who wanted to worship through song; accompanying choirs, children, and soloists in sending up beautiful strains of praise.Janice loved the beauties of the earth and delighted in traveling to see them. She didn''t wait for retirement to buy an R.V., she bought it while her children were young and she and her husband took them to see the United States of America. A love of country ran deep and true in her heart and she passed that love onto her family. One of the greatest joys of her life was being a grandma. Nana to some, Grandma to others, no matter what they called her they knew her name meant love and tenderness. She always made time for hugs, stories over the kitchen table, cookies, and kisses. Every child knew that Grandma Johnson would remember their birthday with a call on the phone or a card with an angelic smiley face and Nana''s love. She showered her affection freely upon 58 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.She never had to go out of her way to be kind, kindness and joy were just her way of life. She was a loyal friend, one who found time to call and write to remind those she loved that love could be shown through small and simple acts. It seems too ordinary a word to use when trying to tell the story of such a loving, wonderful woman, but Janice Lynn Johnson was simply GOOD. She was good in her heart, she was good in her mind, she was good in her words, and she was good in the acts of service and love she performed for others. She lived beautifully the admonition to "Love one another" that the Lord gave to his followers and she left behind in the hearts of her progeny the desire to keep that love alive and flowing outward to all who need it.