YVONNE A JOHNSON

Yvonne Amalia Johnson, age 92, of DeKalb, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Brookdale Lisle Senior Living Center. She was born July 1, 1930 in DeKalb, the daughter of Albert O. and Virginia (Nelson) Johnson.

Yvonne attended rural schools in DeKalb and Kane County, St. Charles High School and Sycamore High School prior to her graduation in 1947. She matriculated to Northern Illinois State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics, graduating in 1951. In 1960 she received a Master of Science Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. Yvonne began her teaching career in a one room rural school, Love. In 1953 she joined the faculty of West School in Sycamore where she spent her teaching career. Yvonne retired from teaching in 2002 after 51 years in a classroom but remained at West in the Learning Center and also tutoring for 9 more years. Her life was devoted to education.

In the late 1990’s Yvonne became chairman of the Elementary Science Program that developed a hands on science program recognized by the State Office of Education. As part of this she led a group of teachers presenting the program throughout Illinois to fellow teachers, and appearing on WREX-TV.

The National Science Foundation granted her three fellowships for advanced study at Penn State (Chemistry and Physics), Rutgers University (Geology and Meterology), and Illinois State University for three summers’ study in all science areas. The ISU program led her to conducting over 250 elementary science teacher workshops throughout Illinois and the United States. The National Science Teachers certified her in 1987 as an elementary science teacher.
She also attended Rockford College, Lewis University, Oklahoma State University, Aurora University, and the National College of Education.

In 1988 NASA she was a member of the newest program at Lewis Research Center. In 1990-1991 she was faculty coordinator of the newest program at Lewis. This led to her going to Johnson Space Center, Lewis and Goddard doing further study for space workshops for teachers.

Yvonne was the President of the Sycamore Business and Professional Club, the District Chairman, State Membership, and Nike Samothrace Chairman and program Chairman for the State Convention of the Illinois Business and Professional Woman’s Club.

In 1978 Yvonne became a member of the Sycamore Public Library Board of Directors assuming the Presidency in 1984. She retired in 1997 after working with the board in raising funds for the new addition. During this time she led the development and construction of the addition to the library bringing the Carnegie library into the modern age.
Yvonne was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb, and was proud of the fact that her grandmother was a charter member of that church in 1858. She served on the church council, various church committees, taught Sunday school and vacation church school, and has been active in church activities.

Yvonne became a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest Museum of Natural History and served 5 years as board President. Kishwaukee Hospital utilized her in raising funds for the present building and the cancer center. She also had volunteered in the Kishwaukee Health Foundation making greeting cards for them.

She became a member of the Family Service Agency Board and worked with the 50 men who cook fundraiser. Brookfield Zoo was an area that she helped promote along with the DeKalb County Community Foundation. She established the Excellence in Education Program, Renaissance Scholarship, and an endowment for MMHN at the foundation.
Yvonne enjoyed traveling, reading, antiques, and craft work. She worked for conservation and saving the environment. Evidence of this will be found at Brookfield Zoo. Forty nine of the fifty states were visited in her lifetime. Yvonne also traveled through Canada and Europe missing only five countries. A highlight was visiting Iceland and standing with one foot on the North American plate and the other on the European plate.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Leo Olson; her brother Kenneth Johnson; many numerous friends in the area who were her support group when her family had all passed away.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023, at First Lutheran Church, 324 North Third Street, DeKalb. Burial will follow at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

Memorial gifts may be made to the DeKalb County Foundation towards one of her projects or towards philanthropic endeavors which they administer.

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