Obituary

Ann Johnson, 93, of Bellingham, WA. passed away peacefully on Monday, August 21st 2023. Ann was born on December 17th, 1929, in Ottumwa, Iowa to Emery and Avis Dean.

Ann’s parents separated when she was young and she was primarily raised by her father. At the age of 14, Ann traveled to San Francisco to live with her mother and start her first job, a telephone operator.

In 1947, at the age of eighteen, Ann was smitten by a U.S. Navy sailor whom she met on a blind date. The date must have gone well, as three months later Ann married Arthur S Johnson, October 1947. Ann and Art would be married until Art’s death, 69 years!
The newlyweds started their new life together by moving to Bellingham, WA. Ann worked for Dahl Fisheries, Bellingham Frozen Foods and later took nursing courses at Bellingham Health Care. Ann began working at Bellingham Health Care and later moved to Highland Care Center where she worked as a nurse’s assistant until she retired.

In retirement, Ann and Art purchased a motor-home and traveled throughout the United States and Canada. They would visit every state, some more than once, with the State of Alaska being the exception where they visited 5 times.

Ann was a lifetime auxiliary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Lynden Post 9301 and was passionate about Veterans and their families. Ann was a member of the Whatcom County Democratic party. Ann’s hobbies included making crochet blankets, hats, tablecloths, and dolls. She received many ribbons at the Lynden Fair for her handywork. When not working on a hobby, Ann could be found in the garden tending to her vegetables, which would fill up the root cellar with canned goods.

Ann was a major sports fan! She loved her Seattle Mariners! Ann also enjoyed the Bellingham Blazers Hockey team, as she and Art traveled to all their events.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents Emery and Avis, her sisters’, Lorraine, Charlotte, and Bonnie Jane, her brothers’, Frank, Jim, and Emery, her husband, Arthur, and son Robert.

Ann is survived by her daughter, Bonnie (Gary) Karb, son Arthur (Margie) Johnson, and daughter, Janet (Rick) Russum.

Grandchildren: Michael (Christina) Karb, Marlund (DeAnna) Karb, Jason (Deanna) Karb, Travis (Jodi) Johnson, Staci (Charlie) Weinheimer, Shawn (Angie) Nance, Shannon Marie, Craig Johnson, Fontina (Garry) Isaacs, and Jessica Elston (Mark) and Randi Beck and Robert Russum.

Great-Grandchildren: Samuel (Grace) Greenwood, Cassie Karb, Jacinda McCartney, Sonja (Marcos) McCartney, James Karb, Catherine (Tyler) Eldred, Sydney Karb, Martel Karb, Kelsey Karb, Brody (Kaylea) Weinheimer, Madison Weinheimer, Ziah Marie, Kaidan Isaacs, Trinity Issacs, Nevaeh Isaacs, Charlie Elston, and Rennie Elston.
Great – Great Grandchildren: Kennedy, Gabe, Sebastion, and Archer Greenwood. Maise and Killian Gonzales.

Ann is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 8th at 1:00 p.m. Woodlawn Cemetery (5977 Northwest Drive). A reception will follow at the Lynden VFW Post 9301 (7011 Hannegan Rd).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lynden VFW.