Joanita Johnson, 71, of Webster died Mon., Feb. 5 peacefully in her own home with her husband by her side.

Livestream video can be viewed at Coester Funeral Home Facebook page.

Joanita was born on May 9, 1952 to Anton and Helen (Breske) Nowak in Watertown, SD. The family lived in Grenville, SD with her brother Tom and sister Janel.  She attended elementary school at St Joseph's and then graduated from Webster High School in 1970, she went on to study at Northern State University.  She went on to teach aerobics and dedicated over 25 years of her life to work at Mikes Jack and Jill.

Throughout the years, she enjoyed gardening, decorating the yard, repurposing furniture, interior decorating and farming.  She dedicated most of her free time to spending time with her kids and grandkids.

In 1966, she met Colin Johnson and they married on August 18, 1973, and in the fall of 1975 is where her life's work truly began with the birth of their first child Russell.  Over the course of the next 9 years 4 more children were had, Corey, Chris, Sarah, and Briana.  It was at this point they figured they should stop trying to get the perfect child, and work with what they got. If they would have given out prizes for mothering, Joanita would have won them all. Raising 5 kids on a small farm was no easy task.  But Joanita took every day in stride.  In these days is where some of her greatest virtues shined bright and were passed on.  Patience and kindness were bountiful.  No child left behind was her motto, this was evident in the recent days of her passing, with thousands of calls, texts, emails, and messages from all over the world, with each saying "she was a mother to us all".

In the Fall of 1998, Joanita was given her most famous, and well-known role as grandma.  This was truly her calling, and 14 times over the next 25 years, she answered that call.  From day 1 of her being their grandma, her grandchildren felt her influence. But there wasn't only 14 grandchildren; she played the role of grandmother to so many others.

Her generosity. Shown in every over-filled Easter basket, over-stuffed stocking, and a never empty pantry.  They were always the victor of her spoils.

Her patience.  Displayed daily with counter and tabletops full of rock collections, lilac or dandelion bouquets, and colored pictures galore. Grandma was truly one to stop and smell the roses, appreciate the little things, and to see the beauty in everything.  If it was important to her grandchildren, it was important to her.

And last but not least.  Her Love.  A day has never passed in her grandchildren's lives, where they did not know unconditional Love.  On the worst of days, Love was never doubted.  On the best of days, Love was abundant.  And all the days in between, were filled with Love.

With Joanita they were always home, always safe, and always loved.  She was their Angel on Earth, their best friend, and more importantly, their Grandma.

She is survived by her husband Colin Johnson of Webster, SD; 3 sons, Russell Johnson (Amanda Lesnar) of Grenville, SD, Corey Johnson (Janelle) of Sioux Falls, SD and Chris Johnson (Kristen German) of Webster, SD; 2 daughters, Sarah Wilhelm (Ryan) of Sioux Falls, SD and Briana Johnson of Webster, SD; 14 grandchildren, Mikaela Johnson, Kenlee Johnson, Andi Carpenter, Kolee Johnson, Maci Kurkowski, Spicer Johnson, Sarianna Johnson, Haeden Jorgenson, Tayten Kurkowski, Braxton Marler, Knox Wilhelm, Hope Johnson, Haevyn Johnson, and Braven Johnson. Her brother Tom (Myra) Nowak and sister Janel (Ken) Rohde.

Joanita was preceded in death by her mother and father, Helen and Anton Nowak, her mother and father-in-law Raymond and Maxine Johnson and other children that called her grandma.