Newhall - Marilyn Jean Johnson, 74, died Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 3, 2018, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Newhall with Father Craig Steimel as Celebrant. A time for food and fellowship will be held after Mass in the parish hall. Marilyn was born March 2, 1944, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of LuVerne and Rosella Mertes Christian. She graduated from Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville and attended Mt. Mercy School of Nursing. On January 25, 1964, Marilyn was united in marriage with Gerald L. Johnson in Jesup, Iowa. Marilyn worked at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton and provided in-home daycare. She also worked at Ced-Rel, Frontier Inn and for McDonald's as a Food Safety Manager. Marilyn was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Newhall and was the Religious Education Coordinator and a Eucharistic Minister. She did volunteer work for Girl Scouts, 4-H, and hospice. She also made 18" doll clothes as the "Green Granny" to help finance blankets for the homeless. Marilyn is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gerald, of Newhall; her children: Sondra (Tim) Cabell of Independence; DeAnn Johnson of Newhall; and Todd Johnson of Norway; sister of heart, Julie Mask, of Evansdale; 8 grandchildren: Justin, Jerrica, Blaize, Christian, Mason, Trenton, Blaine and Wesley; and one great-grandson, Henry. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister and brother-in-law, Wanita and Darrell Spece. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous or Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters. Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Marilyn and her family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.