Donna L. Johnson (nee Washburn) was born February 1, 1947, the first child of William W. Washburn and Mary Jane Washburn (nee Sheridan). Throughout her life, she encountered and conquered major health issues. As a very young child, she was paralyzed by polio, only to stubbornly fight to regain her mobility and by high school she was performing normally as a cheerleader. In 2010, she was again paralyzed, this time by Guillain-Barre syndrome, and again, she regained her mobility through exhaustive rehabilitation. But in 2022, she was struck by a medical foe for which her grit and determination were not enough. Aggressive brain cancer claimed her life on March 17, 2025, after a battle of more than two years.
Until she settled in Caldwell in eighth grade, Donna lived in numerous locations, as her father worked in various oil patches. Following her graduation from Caldwell High School in 1965, Donna attended Wichita Business College, and served as a secretary, at different times for Willard Garvey of Garvey Industries, and Bob Thomas of Thomas Investment Company. On December 26, 1969, she married her former classmate, Lee Johnson, who was serving in the Army, and later would join him at his posts at Fort Carson, Colorado, and Fort Ord, California. After the service, the couple returned to Caldwell, where they worked together at his family’s insurance agency until 1977, when they moved to Topeka, where Donna helped put Lee through law school, serving as a secretary and licensed agent at an insurance agency. Upon Lee’s passing the bar, the couple returned to Caldwell to work together in a law practice, with Donna performing as secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper, and, as she liked to say, “janitor.”
After 21 years in practice, Donna encouraged Lee to apply for a judgeship with the Kansas Court of Appeals, and in 2001, they again pulled up roots and moved to Topeka, where Donna eventually obtained the job she was most proud of: administrative assistant to federal judges Honorable Dale Sommers and Honorable Jan Karlin. She retired in 2017 and the couple again returned to Caldwell for the remainder of her life.
Donna was predeceased by her parents; Lee’s parents: Glenn and Lorraine Johnson; brother-in-law: Michael Hollowell; and son: Jordan W. Johnson. She is survived by her husband; her daughter: Jennifer L. Johnson; her sister: Joyce Hollowell and her son, Matt Hollowell and his daughter Alla Hollowell; siblings-in-law: Nan and Dave Yokum, Stuart and Lisa Johnson, and their children and grandchildren.
Following cremation, a celebration of life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Sugar Sisters, 20 S. Main, Caldwell, KS 67022.
Memorials may be made to the Caldwell High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or the Caldwell Historical Society and sent in care of the mortuary.
