Karen Kay (Greder) Johnson

Karen Kay Greder was born on October 20, 1941, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, NE, to Kenneth and Ruth (Stern) Greder. Karen passed away at the age of 83 years, at the Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney, NE on

Monday, June 16, 2025 surrounded by her family.

She was baptized in the Christian faith at the First Methodist Church of Ainsworth in April of 1945. She attended

grade school through high school at Ainsworth Community Schools, graduating in 1959.

During her high school years, Karen worked at Morrow’s Drive-In as a car hop on roller skates! After graduating,

she worked for short time at the Ainsworth Star Journal. Karen met the love of her life, Brent Johnson, at a dance at the Long Pine Palace in Long Pine, NE. They were married on August 21, 1960, in the Zion Lutheran Church in Ainsworth. To this union three children were born: Mark Edwin, Kathryn Kay, and Beth Ann.

They made their home close to Johnstown, NE, farming with Brent’s dad, Earl, and twin brother, Bruce. Getting

the call to take lunches to the field, haul anhydrous tanks, irrigate, or help move from field to field made her feel needed

and part of the farming operation.

Karen was a member of the Johnstown United Methodist Church and was involved with many different boards and aspects of the church’s operation. She was a big part of the new Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Ainsworth, contributing many hours of research and planning.

For many years Karen loved bringing craft projects and supplies for the residents of Cottonwood Villa to create. She was involved in several craft clubs and bible study groups. She found great enjoyment in crafting, cross stitching, reading and mowing her yard.

When Brent and Mark were coaching Legion baseball, she enjoyed making “baseball cookies” and giving them

to the boys after the games. She would also keep a stash of them in the freezer for all to enjoy, especially the little

people that stopped in to visit. At every opportunity she loved attending and watching all the activities of her “grands” and great-grands.” She was known for making and giving Christmas ornaments for her family, church family and friends, which

she thoroughly enjoyed. Faith in God and her family were the most important things in her life.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Brent Johnson of 61 years; father, Kenneth Greder; mother and step-father, Ruth and Arthur Atwood; brother, Gary and sister-in-law, Doris Greder; and brother, Gail Greder.

She is survived by her son, Mark Johnson and wife, Chris of Ainsworth; grandson, Nathan and wife, Kristen Johnson, and their children, Carter and Alli; grandson, Tyler and wife, Nicole Johnson, and their children, Leighton and Slate; grandson, Lane and wife, Shelby Johnson, and their children, Willa, Charlotte and Elizabeth; daughter, Kathy Jochem and husband, Greg of Ainsworth; granddaughter, Brittany Shannon and husband, Nick, and their children, Addisyn and Kinsley; granddaughter, Katie Meyer and husband, Jeremiah, and their children, Luke and Emma; daughter, Beth Nichols and husband, Jim of Litchfield, NE; granddaughter, Ericka Goodner and husband, Dexter, and their children, Grey and Hayze; granddaughter, Kelsey Ruzicka and husband, Riley, and their children, Riggs and Cash; grandson, Caleb Unick and fiancée, Jordan Wilbur, granddaughter, McKenna Hunt and husband, Ramsey, granddaughter, Ashley Nichols and fiancé, Jorden Comstock, and grandson, Clayton Nichols. Karen is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Jeane Johnson of Ainsworth, and Sharon and husband, Jay Stombaugh of Lexington, NE; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral Service was held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth officiated by Pastors Michael Eurit and David Randall. Music was provided by Kim Bejot with the CD Selections of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me, “Remember When” by Alan Jackson, “Jealous of the Angels” by Donna Taggart, and “Heaven Got Another Angel” by Gordon Garner being played. Casketbearers were: Nathan Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Lane Johnson, Caleb Unick, Jeremiah Meyer, Dexter Goodner, Riley Ruzicka, Clayton Nichols, Nick Shannon and Ramsey Hunt. Honorary Casketbearers were: All of Karen’s Granddaughters and Great-Grandchildren. Memorials were suggested to the Ainsworth American Legion Post #79 or to the Johnstown United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.