Heaven has claimed the life of Joy C. Johnson of Manhattan, KS. She was 83 years old and died peacefully on October 4, 2022 at Meadowlark Hills. She fought a battle with cancer for the last year.
Joy
was born on May 1, 1939 in Plainville, KS to Louis and Opal Hrabe. She
was a graduate of Stockton High School, class of 1957. She moved to
Manhattan, KS to attend ManhattanChristian College where she met the
love of her life, Dennis Johnson. They were married on December 20,
1958.
Dennis and Joy raised two children, Judy Jo (1960) and
David Duane (1961). They spent their early married years in Abilene, KS
where Dennis worked at KP&L and Joy received a bachelor’s degree
from Marymount College in Salina, KS. Joy taught social sciences at
Abilene High School. They also managed the King Solomon Christian Camp
near Solomon, KS while working their jobs in Abilene. Joy was well known
for her excellent homemade food she prepared for the campers each
summer.
The Lord called them to move to Manhattan, KS and join
the Manhattan Christian College family. They held several job positions
depending on the needs of the College. After the high school graduations
of their children from Manhattan High School, Dennis and Joy moved to
the Johnson family farm south of Abilene, KS to take care of Grandpa
Frank and the farm. During this time, Joy enjoyed raising a few horses
and showing them with her daughter and grandchildren. She won several
awards on the Eastern Kansas Horseman’s Association and
made many friends.
Faith
and Family were a big part of Joy’s life. She cherished her personal
relationship with her savior, Jesus Christ. She loved studying her Bible
and preparing Bible lessons to share with others. She also loved
playing the piano and organ for church services. Joy was a faithful member
of the First Christian Church in Abilene and the University Christian
Church in Manhattan. Joy was a loving, caring grandmother who was very generous. She loved spending as much time as she could with her
grandchildren and her great granddaughters even as she was battling cancer during the past year.
Joy
is survived by her daughter, Judy Parsons and husband, Bob of Hugoton,
KS; sons David Johnson and wife Keiko of Manhattan and Bill Watt and
wife, Katherine of Junction City, KS; Grandchildren Eli Gantenbein,
Salina; Levi Gantenbein and wife Katelyn, Manhattan; Claire Johnson,
San Diego, CA and Donny Johnson, Manhattan. Great granddaughters Emma
and Amelia Gantenbein, Manhattan. Her sisters Betty Raney of CA and
Phyllis Hart of Plainville; and her brother, Debert Hrabe and wife
Jeanne of Overland Park, KS. She will be missed by her
many extended family members and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Johnson; her parents; her step father, Leo Bonneau; her brother Doyal Hrabe.
A
private family celebration is being planned for the near future.
Memorial donations are suggested to Manhattan Christian College, 1415
Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502.