Julie Ann Johnson

JULIE ANN (KLEIN) JOHNSON was born on September 22, 1962 to Merlyn and Jeanne (Treinen) Klein in LeMars, IA where she was raised and attended school. In 1981, she graduated from LeMars High School. On July 10, 1981, she married David Kounkel in Vermillion, SD. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Vermillion for a short time before moving to LeMars. In 1990, they moved to a farm near Jasper, MN.
After losing her husband, she worked at Bayliner and New Horizons before attending Minnesota West Community College in Pipestone, MN graduating in 2011 as a surgical technician and an LPN. She then began working at Sunrise Village in Jasper doing a variety of jobs. Julie loved being able to sit and talk to all the residents and became a friend to many of them. In September 2020, she decided to retire and spend time with her grandchildren.
The job that Julie valued the most was being a mother and grandmother. Days off of work were usually always filled with a house full of laughing grandkids. They would sing, dance, craft and cause all sorts of mischief…which Julie was well known for. She loved to play pranks on her family and friends and always seemed to be plotting something.
On November 19, 2020 she married Pete Johnson in Luverne, MN. Julie was looking forward to being able to celebrate their union with family and friends this December. Pete and Julie were rarely seen apart. They enjoyed going camping, riding motorcycle and watching Westerns.
Julie gained her wings on July 15, 2021 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD after a courageous battle with cancer.
She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Pete Johnson of Jasper, MN; her children, Sara (Josh) Schreurs of Ipswich, SD, Dustin (Shannon) Kounkel of Pipestone, MN, Brandon (Kelly) Kounkel of Jasper, MN, Zack (Lisa) Kounkel of Jasper, MN, Courtney (Bruce) Kounkel of Pipestone, MN, Baylee Johnson of Alexandria, SD and Matthew Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Mariah (Angel), Kainen, Ava, Deegan, Mackenzie, Bentley, Makayla, Kadynce, Kynslee, Brogan, Claire and Kyler; siblings, Diane Prieksat of Sioux City, IA, Tim (Crystal) Klein of Kansas City, MO, Tom (Mindy) Klein of Kansas City, MO, Steve (Bonnie) Klein of Ankeny, IA, Amy Schumacher of Gardner, GA, Dan (Karen) Klein of Phoenix, AZ, Ron (Heike) Klein of Gardner, KS and Carmie (Gary) Bosch of Sioux Falls, SD; and everyone who had the pleasure to meet her, know her and fall in love with her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Kounkel; her parents, Merlyn and Jeanne Klein; stepmother, Jan Klein; sister-in-law, Lori Kounkel; maternal and paternal grandparents; fathers-in-law, Dennis Johnson and David Farrar; mother and father-in-law, Blaine and Carolyn Kounkel; and best friend, Sharla Drew.