Dorothy Emma Johnson

Dorothy Emma Swanson was born on September 10, 1925, to Harry and Georgia (Mathews) Swanson on the family farm south of Cook, Nebraska. She was the sixth of eight children (Beulah, Nellie May, Selma, Lillian, Albert, Lucille, and Vogene) and was the last to survive. The relatives all called her “Dot.” Dorothy graduated from Cook High School in 1943 where she loved to play softball and volleyball. She married Harold Vernon Zwiebel on October 4,1946, in the Methodist Church in Cook. They farmed near Syracuse, Cook, and Dunbar in the earlier years, then moved in September of 1951 to Yutan where Harold worked at his brother Lester’s garage. Three daughters were born to Dorothy and Harold. Harold passed away on October 29, 1965, at age 43 due to kidney failure from Type 1 diabetes which he had been diagnosed with when they were newly married. Dorothy married Carlos L. Johnson in Fremont on February 23, 1968, and gained two step-daughters, Jeanette and Faith. She was widowed again in June of 2001. Dorothy was always involved in the many activities of Women’s Fellowship in her church, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ (formerly St. Peter’s Evangelical & Reformed Church) in Yutan. She worked part-time in the Yutan Public Schools kitchen for a few years before taking a full-time position at Western Electric in 1968 where she worked for 10 years. Dorothy loved to garden and can the produce, sing, listen to big band music, watch “Wheel of Fortune,” bake, travel, attend luncheon meetings of the “Former Belles of Mount Hope,” and spend time with family and friends. Red was her favorite color. She enjoyed sharing her birth date each year with great-grandson Maklin and her nephew Gary Carlsen. Her younger sister Lu once said that she didn’t know anyone who loved having company more than Dot. She lived her life sharing kindness and love. Dorothy fell in her home in June of 2018 and was hospitalized for 3 weeks, then resided at Saunders House Assisted Living in Wahoo for just over 5 years. She was moved to Saunders Medical Center Skilled and Long-Term Care in August of 2023. Dorothy is survived by daughters Marilyn Witte, Diane (Bob) Sealock, Jackie (Steve) Pella, grandchildren Greg (Cara) Sealock, Julie (Brian) Faulkner, Tim (Tracy) Sealock, Kyle (Lori) Witte, Colleen (Dan) Comer, Kim (Aaron) Vlasnik, and Clint (Kara) Pella, step-daughter Faith Dunn, 19 great-grandchildren, and many loving relatives. She was predeceased by step-daughter Jeanette Martens. Funeral service will be Monday, 11 AM at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn with interment at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Elkhorn. Visitation Sunday from 3-5 PM at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Yutan Fire and Rescue or Mount Hope Cemetery near Cook, NE. Dorothy's funeral service will be streamed and can be viewed in the photos and videos tab of her obituary page on Reichmuth Funeral Home's website.

Dorothy Emma Johnson

September 10, 1925 - February 16, 2024