Janice Marie Johnson, 91, died Jan. 12, 2010, at her home in Oak Harbor. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 27, 1918, to Adolph Alfred and Mary Elizabeth (Schneider) Johnson.

Janice graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1936. During her senior year, she was asked to be secretary to the vice-principal at the school, thus beginning her career as a secretary. She later became secretary to the Director of Elementary Education for the Des Moines Public Schools.

During World War II, Janice worked for the Selective Service Board and for the Veterans Administration. She then began a long history of work for the Lutheran Church. Her first church position was serving as secretary to Dr. S.E. Engstrom, executive director for the board of Home Missions, Augustana Synod, the Swedish portion of the Lutheran Church.

Janice became secretary of the First Lutheran Church of Des Moines, a church with a very large congregation. A new member class was formed and Janice was introduced to the members. One of the candidates was a young man, Kent F. Johnson, a civil engineer. He invited Janice for a date and a romance developed, culminating in their marriage on June 25, 1955.

Janice followed Kent’s engineering career to Riverside, San Mateo, and San Andreas, Calif.; and Muskogee, Okla. In 1964, Kent was called to assist with the reconstruction in Alaska, following their major earthquake.

Kent left private engineering and became the chief construction engineer for the American Missions, Lutheran Church of America, supervising church construction. Janice often accompanied Kent on his work, which took them to all areas of the United States, the four provinces of Canada, the Caribbean, and to over 1,600 churches. During their travels, Janice volunteered for various roles in the churches they were assisting. He and Janice were home-based in Clarendon Hills, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.

The Johnsons retired in Oak Harbor in 1986. Janice and Kent became very active members of the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Ruth Circle. She enjoyed her home, travel, family and church and was an avid reader. Janice was called the “Holy Tearer” by her husband, for all the articles she tore out of magazines and newspapers to share with her friends, her pastors and family members. Janice made a strong lifelong commitment to stay in contact with the many people whom her life had touched through her long, newsy letters and supportive cards.

Janice is survived by her sister-in-law, Joanne Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, and by three nieces, Kathleen Johnson of Lincoln, Neb., Gail Speckmann of Plymouth, Minn., and Doreen Kloehn of Minneapolis. Her husband Kent Johnson and one brother Stanley Johnson preceded her in death.

Funeral services for Janice Johnson were held Jan. 22 at the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church with Rev. Jay Decker officiating. A graveside committal service was held at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Burley Funeral Chapel.