Ellen Josephine Berems ¹

April 19, 2001 Morning Sun News-Herald and The Wapello Republican.

Ellen Johnson Strunk, age 79 of Morning Sun, formerly of Fort Madison and Burlington, died Saturday evening April 14, 2001 at Genesis East Medical Center in Davenport. She was born October 29, 1921 at Fort Madison, the daughter of Charles C. and Emma (Hitch) Berems. On March 13, 1943 she married Wayne (Red) Johnson who died in 1969. She later married Frank Strunk who also preceded her in death.

She attended the Franklin School at Franklin, Iowa. She helped her husband Red Johnson operate a taxi service in Fort Madison for many years. She later worked as a housekeeper at Holiday Inn in Burlington for over 20 years. She was a member of the Circle 8 Square Dance Club of Fort Madison. She was a former member of the Zion United Church of Christ and was a member of the Catholic Diocese in Fort Madison. She had resided at the Morning Sun Care Center in Morning Sun since 1991.

Survivors include: 1 daughter, Sharon McCartney of Denver, Colorady; 2 sons, Robert Johnson of Morning Sun and Larry Johnson of Knoxville; 3 grandchildren; 1 brothers, George Berems of Pontiac, Illilnois.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and 1 brothers.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. from the First United Presbyterian Church in Morning Sun, with Rev. Jack Edmisson and Hoyt Griffin officiating. Interment followed at the Oakland Cemetery at Fort Madison.

Friends called on Tuesday from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Morning Sun, where the family met with friends from 5-7:00 pm.

A mnmorial has been established for the Morning Sun Care Center.

Music was provided by Pamela Butler, organist. Casket bears: Doug Johnson, Chad Johnson, Blake Johnson, Bob Heater and Jim Whalem

Ellen married Wayne (Red) Johnson on 13 Mar 1943. (Wayne (Red) Johnson died in 1969.)

Ellen next married Frank Strunk. (Frank Strunk died before 2001.)