Obituary of Donna J. Johnson

Donna J. (Haafke) Johnson, 92, passed away on Friday, March 28^, 2025 at Briarwood Health Center in Iowa City, IA surrounded by family.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 18, 2025 at the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home.

Donna Haafke was born December 2, 1932 in Sioux City, IA to Herman A & M Jeanette (Foote) Haafke. She graduated from Bronson, IA high school, attended Iowa State Teacher College (UNI) and graduated from Morningside College. She was an elementary school teacher in Onawa, IA, Sioux City, IA., and Omaha, NE.  On August 20, 1959 she married H. Wayne Johnson at her family farm near Bronson, IA.

Donna was a stay-at-home mother until her children were in school. She returned to working with children as a pre-school teacher in daycare centers. She was a longtime member of the staff of Melrose Day Care serving as assistant director and co-director. She was active in organizations for Education of Young Children and was honorary chair of the Week of the Young Children in 1999. She loved working with young children and loved their literature and music. Donna and Wayne traveled extensively and touched every continent. They spent winters in the south and summers at a cottage in McGregor.

She was preceeded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne (2009); her daughters, Marilyn and Carolyn; infant twin brother, Donald, and brothers, Richard and Raymond. She is survived by her son-in-law Kevin Tappan, grandson Trenton Tappan (Emilee) and his children Tate and Reese Tappan, granddaughter Carly Tappan and her daughter Sawyer Shatek, her granddaughter Nicole Kruse and her children Timothy Mills, Chloe Mills, and Lilly Mills, her sister Joanne Haafke, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The H. Wayne and Donna J. Johnson Undergraduate Scholarship at the University of Iowa school through the University Foundation, The Unitarian Universalist Society, or the Essence of Life Hospice.