Marie Johnson

Marie Victoria (Lawler) Johnson, 92, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at her home surrounded by her beloved family.

Her funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church of Bettendorf where she was a member. She will be laid to rest at Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf where a prayer service will be held at 4:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Humility of Davenport or the church.

She was born November 11, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Daniel Vincent & Mary Loretta (Clifford) Lawler and grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa. Marie graduated from the former Mercy School of Nursing in Davenport in 1946.

On January 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to John L. “Pete” Johnson in Bettendorf. He preceded her in death on January 31, 1989.

In her many years of nursing, she worked at the former Mercy Hosptal, the former Moline Public Hospital and the Bettendorf School System serving as the school nurse at Hoover and Grant Wood Elementary Schools, retiring in 1983.

Marie had been an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes since 1944 and volunteered countless hours to the parish through the years. She was active in the Marian Circle and Christian Services. In addition to the church, she was a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Auxiliary of Bettendorf, the American Business Women’s Association and the American Nurses Association.

Marie always had a smile on her face and was there for her family, friends and neighbors. She was known for her baking, especially her delicious pies. Her Irish heritage was important to Marie and she was very proud of it. Marie was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and was always hopeful for that winning year.

Survivors to love and honor her memory include her daughters, Karon Kerest and Rita Johnson, both of Bettendorf; her sons, Jerry Johnson of Bettendorf and Robert Johnson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Also surviving is her sister, Jean (Arthur) Disney of Bartlett, Tennessee; and her brother Robert (Jackie) Lawler of Sioux City, Iowa.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Gerald, Louis & Paul "Duke" Lawler; and her sisters, Veronica Lawler, Catherine Malloy and Alice Wood.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Becky Umennachi, Carol Jansen, Liz Jansen, Patty Wendt and Kathy Langley for their loving care and compassion shown to their mother during her illness.