BOONE, Iowa—Funeral arrangements are set for 76 year old Sandra “Sandi” Jean Johnson of Boone, Iowa.  She passed away on Monday, August 23, 2021 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born on February 25, 1945 the daughter of Stanley and Colleen (Mortimer) Christianson. Sandi attended Kindergarten through 5th grade at Sheldahl Consolidated School, and then 6th and 7th grade at North Polk School in Alleman, Iowa. The family then moved to the Boone area where Sandi attended United Community Schools, graduating from United Community High School in 1963.

After graduating High School she attended Iowa State University in Ames.  She then worked at Audio Visual instruction as a secretary/bookkeeper at ISU for four years.  She later returned to school at Boone Junior College. In 1968 Sandi became the Deans Secretary at the Boone Junior College. She was employed by the Boone Junior College, now called DMACC, until 2019. In her career with DMACC she served as the Deans Secretary and in the Student Services Department. She loved helping students pursue their degrees and see them build confidence with all they could do. Sandi returned to ISU after her children graduated from High School as an evening college student on a part-time basis while still working full-time at DMACC and graduated in August of 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies.

Sandi was very active in the community. She served as President, Vice President, Secretary, Scholarship Chairperson while a member of Boone Soroptimist International as well as chair of the Junior Miss Scholarship Pageant and Women Helping Women Scholarship Program; organized and served as Vice President, Secretary, and membership chair for the Boone Community Concert Association; and served as President and Vice President for the Boone Genealogy Society.

From 1988 to 2005 Sandi served as the Boone County Fair Scholarship Pageant Chairperson and was the Boone County Fair Parade Marshall in 2004. She taught Sunday school for 20 years, sang in the church choir, was a former member of the Iowa State University Choir as well as served as a secretary to DMACC, Boone Campus Foundation Board from 1969 to 1986. In addition, Sandi was an advisor to the honor society at DMACC since it was chartered in 1969. She is currently the longest-serving advisor for Phi Theta Kappa in the nation.

Sandi has been very supportive of youth in our community by serving on the Ames Youth and Shelter Corporate Board of Directors for two years, and Boone Youth and Shelter Advisory Board from 1982 until her passing. She received an award for Youth and Shelter Service for service to the youth programs. She also served as a member of the Boone Optimist Club.

In High School and College, Sandi was a cheerleader and 4-H member in Boone County and ISU, a member of the 4-H Poultry Judging Team that won 1st place in the State of Iowa in 1963. 4-H gave her many opportunities which included attending the Citizenship Short course in Washington DC where she met President John F. Kennedy and his son John John, and President Ike Eisenhower, and his wife Mamie. She also had the opportunity to take shorthand for Senator Ted Kennedy when he was in Boone years ago.

She has been blessed with many honors. As a Senior in High School Sandi served as President of Y-Teens and for three years served on the State of Iowa Y-Teen Board; received the Betty Crocker’s Homemaking Award her Senior year; Photography Salon Award winner; Boone Campus Outstanding Secretarial Award; Boone Citizen of the Year Award in 2019; Boone Rotary Outstanding Employee Award; DMACC HEA Outstanding Employee Award, and DMACC Outstanding Community Service Award, and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor Awards.

Sandi’s hobbies included genealogy, sports and freelance photography, crochet, knitting, sewing, painting, drawing, and attending car races and her children and grandchildren’s activities. She loved attending her children’s and now her grandchildren’s athletic and school events. Sandi helped coach the senior girls’ softball league for several years. She helped to get the DMACC Alcohol abuse class started at the Boone Campus. She was very concerned about substance abuse issues for both the youth and adults and women’s issues on discrimination in the workplace based on age. Sandi had a great concern for youth, and this was displayed throughout her life.

Sandi is preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Colleen (Mortimer) Christianson.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Harold Johnson; son Chad (Gina) Johnson of Dexter, IA; daughter Angi (Jeff) Ellsworth of Boone, IA; foster children and nephews Roger Hilton of Boone, IA and Doug Hilton of Ames, IA; grandchildren: Savannah (Nick) Montgomery, Spencer Sisco, Casi Johnson, Danielle (Ben) Hoskins, and Emma Ellsworth; great-grandchildren: Cameron, Conner, Gavin, Garrett, Lucas, Ryan, and Knox; sister JoAnne (George) Baker of Bloomington, MN; brother Darrell (Beth) Christianson of rural Boone, IA, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home with Pastor Dan Solomon officiating. Interment will take place at Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone following the funeral service. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to YSS or the Boone Optimist Club.

Online condolences can be left at www.schroederfuneral.com

Sandra “Sandi” Johnson, 76, Boone, Iowa