Lila Margaret Copelin

  General Notes:

Lila M. Johnson, age 85, of Red Oak, Iowa passed away Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Lila Margaret Johnson was born November 2, 1922 in Villisca, Iowa the daughter of John David and Effie May (Noble) Copelin. She was raised near Villisca and graduated from Villisca High School in 1941. She worked for several area families helping with the kids and later for Powell School before she was united in marriage to A. Delbert Johnson on February 25, 1944 in Corning, Iowa. They lived and farmed near Gus, Iowa for 40 years moving to Red Oak in 1984. Delbert eventually was residing at the Villisca Good Samaritan Care Center and Lila moved to Villisca in 1991 to be closer to Delbert. Delbert preceded Lila in death on March 31, 1993. Lila moved back to Red Oak in 1998 and lived at Acorn Acres. Over the years Lila worked as a telephone operator and a cook at both the Shady Lawn Nursing Home in Villisca and the Good Samaritan Care Center in Red Oak. Lila always kept very busy in her work, church and taking care of her family. She was a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, and 4-H leader for many years. Her hobbies included maintaining a very large garden, canning, sewing, embroidery, working with resin to create art projects, arranging pressed flowers into pieces of art, and loved decorating for all the holidays. Lila was also proud to have been a member of the Calico Maids Club and the First Christian Church.

Preceding Lila in death were her infant brothers: Delbert and Darwin; her parents; her husband: Delbert Johnson; her sister: Ruth Speed; and her brother: Joe Copelin. Survivors include her daughter: Colleen Johnson of Red Oak Iowa; her sister: Mary Speed of Huxley, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews; two special children who called her "Mom" and their 5 children who called her "Grandma"; sisters-in-law: Millicent Copelin of Villisca, Iowa; Lola Johnson of Colorado; and Betty Johnson of Corning, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2 PM Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lowell Schaaf and Rev. JoAnn officiating. Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery near Villisca, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be held from 6-8 PM Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. Lila's pressed flower art arrangements will be diplayed at her funeral and her wishes were that memorials be suggested to the Red Oak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association in lieu of flowers.

Lila married A. Delbert Johnson on 25 Feb 1944 in Corning, Adams County, Iowa. (A. Delbert Johnson died on 31 Mar 1993 in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa.)