Roberta Lynn Stephenson-Johnson, 72, of Marion, passed away Oct. 24, 2024, at University Hospitals in Iowa City after a short but brave battle with cancer. Visitation will be today (Thursday, Nov. 7), 4-7 pm at Murdoch-Linwood, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, Nov. 8, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home with an hour of visitation prior to the service. The service will be followed by a time of food and fellowship at the funeral home, followed by a graveside service at approx. 2 p.m. at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, 15531 Co. Rd. E17, Monticello, IA.
She is survived by her husband, Daniel of Marion, son Bryan (Erica), and grandson (Kayden) of Portland, Ore., sister in law Juli Hinz (David) of Salt Lake City, Utah, sister in law Laurie Nagel (Steve) of Story City, nephews Lukas and Jakob Nagel of Story City, cousins Sheralyn Lahr (Dan) of Monticello, Beverly Bordelon (Gene) of Warrenville, Ill., Norma Machacek of Cedar Falls, Peggy Harvey of Cedar Rapids, and Nancy Beaurline (Paul) of South. St. Paul, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Wilma Stephenson; father and mother-in-law Myron and Elizabeth Johnson; uncles and aunts, George and Charlotte Machacek and Chuck and Betty Stephenson; aunt Arlene Miller; and cousins Lynette Calloway, Linda Evans, and Charlie Stephenson.
Roberta was born May 23, 1952, in Monticello, to Robert and Wilma Stephenson of rural Monticello. She was educated in the Monticello School District and graduated in 1970. She then attended and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1974, majoring in art and Spanish and inducted into the Order of the Purple Arrow. She began teaching at NESCO Community Schools of Zearing, IA in 1974 for 2 years, then at United Community Schools of Boone, where she eventually met Daniel Johnson of rural Boone. They married in July 1978 in Monticello. Their son Bryan was born in September 1980 in Boone. They were engaged in farming in their early years, but left farming in 1985 and moved to Mount Vernon. They both began postal careers in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Roberta worked as a clerk, and later as a training technician in the Cedar Rapids main office until retirement in May of 2014. In 2007 she and Dan moved to Marion where they currently reside. After Dan retired in October 2017, they bought a condo in Portland, Ore., where their now-married son Bryan (Erica Porras) and grandson Kayden were living. Roberta and Dan divided time between Marion and Portland from the fall of 2017 until her passing.
Roberta loved growing flowers and kept colorful flower beds in Mount Vernon and later Marion until physically no longer able to. She was a talented artist, both on canvas and in decorating her homes. Roberta also enjoyed travel and made it to 49 of the 50 states. She also had trips to Mexico, Ireland, and Sweden, as well as cruises to Alaska, New England and Nova Scotia, Yucatan Peninsula, and the Panama Canal.
As a child Roberta was baptized and confirmed in St. Matthew’s Church in Monticello which was the foundation for her faith journey. As a young adult she trusted the Lord as her Savior and felt blessed throughout her spiritual life. She and Dan were longtime members of Cedar Hills Evangelical Church, which then became Stonebridge Church of Cedar Rapids. In her final days she longed to be with the Lord when the pain became especially intense. Mercifully, she did not suffer for a long period of time. From her loving family and all others who knew and loved Roberta she will be greatly missed.
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” The family wishes to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and other Staff of Mercy Hospital CR and University Hospitals in Iowa City for their concern and support for Roberta while she was in their care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Roberta’s memory to Camp Courageous, American Red Cross, Stonebridge Church, or a charity of choice. Please share a memory of Roberta at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.