Virginia M. Johnson

Virginia M. Johnson, 96, of Wakefield, NE, passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, NE. The visitation will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield with Pastor Ernesto Medina. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Virginia was born on February 14, 1930, in Ceresco, NE, the daughter of Wilhelm “Willie” and Elise “Lizzie” (Juds) Otto. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Ithaca, NE. She attended school through the 8th grade at District 56 in Saunders County. After starting high school, she had to leave school to help the family farm while her brothers were serving in WWII.

On June 18, 1947, she was married to Earl E. Nelson. They had three children: Steve, Ivan (Stillborn), and Cheryl, and she also raised her niece, Valorie. They later divorced. On April 15, 1964, she married Hubert A. Johnson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Davey, NE. Later that year, they moved to Wakefield with the children. Hubert passed away on November 7, 2012, and then Virginia moved to the Wakefield Health Care Assisted Living in 2015. In 2017, she moved to the Care Center section of the building.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1953 – being dedicated for 73 years and is listed as the sole remaining Gold Star member and was a part of the VFW since 1989. She worked for many years at the Wakefield Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide. She cleaned houses for several families and was a loving “Nanny” for Dennis & Carmella Rodby’s two boys and the children of Dick & Jane Brownell. She was a woman of many talents and enjoyed doing a lot of her hobbies with her husband Hubert. Together, they loved growing flowers and having a huge garden and sharing the fruits of their labor with friends, family and neighbors. She was very artistic and loved making things with her hands. She loved sewing & making Herbie Huskers and bird houses. Virginia was a dedicated member of the Polka Lover’s Club of America (P.O.L.K.A.) and rarely missed a Polka Fest. She and Hubert traveled extensively in their motorhome, always seeking out new campgrounds and fishing spots. They often stayed with family, where they found great joy in watching their grandchildren and lending a helping hand around the farm and ranch. An avid animal lover, Virginia always had a devoted dog or cat by her side, fed the birds, and even raised canaries and parakeets. She also had a special fondness for chickens, which became a staple theme in her home decor.

Virginia is survived by her son, Steve Nelson of Carroll, NE; daughters, Valorie Hamar of Wahoo, NE and Cheryl (Arlen) Deines of Ravenna, NE; eight grandchildren, Jacob (Leia) Deines, Stuttgart, Germany; Jeremiah (Brittney) Deines, Rockville, NE; Joshua (Kate) Deines, Arnold, NE; Elizabeth Deines, Broken Bow NE; Emily (Dylan) Delany, Lincoln, NE; Amanda Hamar (Fiancé Nick Rogers), Wahoo, NE; Katie Hamar, Wahoo, NE and Derek (Kayla) Hamar, Auburn, NE. She is also survived by twenty great-grandchildren, and her beloved cat, Socks.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hubert; infant son, Ivan Nelson; sister, Bernice Wiese; brothers, Ralph Otto, Donald Otto, and Harold Otto; daughter-in-law, Gwen Nelson; and 3 great-grandchildren – Parker, Skylar, and Hezekiah Hamar.