Obituary of Gloria A. Marchman

Gloria Anne Marchman died November 25, 2015 at her home in Iowa City. She was born on December 29, 1939 in New Orleans, LA and grew up in Huntsville, Texas, with her parents, James Hansford Smith and Mary Elizabeth Acker Smith, and sisters, Judy and Peggy. After graduating from high school in Huntsville, Gloria attended college in Houston and obtained her BSN degree. She married Douglas N. Johnson, MD and had two sons, Doug and Everett. She was a dedicated nurse who worked in a variety of positions in Texas and Iowa. In 1979 Gloria married James N. Marchman and in the process acquired three adoring stepchildren, Lisa, Christy, and Michael. After her family and her work, Gloria's great love was bicycling. She biked with her many friends all over Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, and toured in several other states ranging from Colorado to Georgia to New York. After developing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Gloria received a bilateral lung transplant on November 1, 2009. Gloria was able to live six extra years, thanks to this self-less gift of life made possible by a generous family at the time of their own great tragedy and grief. She was grateful every day for the opportunity to have more time with her family and friends, and she made the best of it. Gloria is survived by her husband, Jim, of Iowa City; children Douglas N. Johnson, Jr. (wife Molly) of Hamilton, NY, Everett E. Johnson of Boise, ID, Lisa C. Kemmerer (husband Roc) of Iowa City, Christy L. Middleton (husband Peter) of Madison, WI, and Michael J. Marchman (wife Stephanie) of Iowa City; beloved grandchildren Danny and Sadie Johnson of Hamilton, NY, Eve and Ava Johnson of Boise, ID, and Jackson and Grace Middleton of Madison, WI; sister Judy Isenberg of San Antonio, TX. Gloria's parents and sister, Peggy preceded her in death. Gloria was a kind, generous, and loving wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, and friend. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. A gathering to celebrate Gloria's life will be held Monday, November 30th from 5-7 p.m. at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of sending flowers please consider honoring Gloria by becoming an organ donor.