Karin Jeneel Johnson's Obituary
Karin Jeneel Johnson, wife of Richard S. Johnson and mother of Rick, Mike, and Mat, returned to our Father in Heaven on March 27th 2026.
Jeneel was born on Sunday, November 8th, 1936 in Spanish Fork, Utah to Lawrence Benjamin Simmons and Mildred Adelene Angell. She was the oldest of 4 siblings, brother James and sisters Carolyn, Dalene, and MaryAnn.
Jeneel’s early years were spent with her family in Spanish Fork, Utah and later in Springville, Utah where they moved in 1948.
All through her life, Jeneel was always doing things with her hands. As a child, she loved spending time with her Grandma Angell, who taught her to embroider and to crochet. She remembered the first thing she crocheted was a round doily for her mom. Jeneel also remembered her Grandma Angell always having candy in the candy dish, a tradition she continued in her home.
Jeneel developed a great love of reading and feels it was because of the love her mother had for reading. She was introduced to the library at an early age and would go often to get as many books as she was allowed to take. Jeneel always had a book sitting close by that she was in the process of reading.
Jeneel met her sweetheart Dick, when his cousin, Don Johnson, asked Dick to go on a double date with him and a girl named Carleen, and her friend Jeneel. Dick said yes, but when Jeneel was asked she said “No!” she had just put her hair in curlers. However, she went anyway, curlers and all. They “hit it off well” and started dating.
About a year later Dick was in training with the Navy in Norman, Oklahoma. When he was wandering around the PX he saw they had some diamond rings. He had already planned to marry Jeneel, so decided to buy a ring. He did NOT want her to date anyone else, so he mailed it to her with a proposal letter. Although some in the family found this “bizarre” when told about the proposal years later, it still worked. She said “Yes” and they were married on August 2nd, 1955, in the Logan Temple.
They made their first home together at Whidby Island, Washington where Dick was based and where their first son, Rick, was born. In 1959, they moved to Kearns, Utah where their second son, Mike, was born. Then in 1963 they moved to Bountiful, where their third son, Mat, was born. After 37 years living in Bountiful, they moved in 1999 into their final home together in Centerville, Utah.
Jeneel was a master at knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint. While living in Bountiful she found that she was unable to find the supplies she needed to work at her craft. While reflecting on this with her friend Shirley Eggington, Shirley jokingly said that they should open their own shop. After some discussion they applied for a loan, found a location and opened The Spinning Wheel, with their slogan “Where fun is spun for you” a needlework and yarn business. Her Grandma Angell was so excited for Jeneel owning and running The Spinning Wheel. It was a fun part of Jeneel’s life, making lifelong friends of customers and employees. After 27 years she sold the business in 1997.
She was a member of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer organization to help improve the lives of women and girls and providing help to those in need. The Spinning Wheel workers and customers knit hats for children in need. She loved to tell a story of one child that loved his hat so much that he would not wear it in bad weather because he did not want to ruin it.
Things listed by Jeneel in her journal that made her happy:
Her favorite color was yellow. Favorite flower was a sunflower, and
favorite song was “You are my Sunshine”.
She loved summer and loved to go out in the hot sunshine and get too warm and then walk into a cool air-conditioned house, and vice versa.
She loved mornings. She loved to listen as the world wakes up just before dawn, as the birds wake up and the world starts another day.
She loved being able to see the stars in the early morning without glasses or contact lenses after she’d had Lasic surgery.
She loved reading the comics in the morning newspaper.
She loved her grandchildren. She would be so happy when they would come to visit. She would also be happy after tending them when it was time for parents to pick them up!
She loved being called “Sister Ice Lady” by the neighborhood children.
She loved the relationship she had with her siblings and the special bond and support she had with her sisters.
She loved to be alone with herself and loved even more being alone with Dick.
She loved her husband of 70 years deeply, and in a note to him stated “Your smile each day lights up my life. There can’t be another old couple in this world as happy as we are. If you were a democrat you would be perfect! If ever a marriage should be celebrated it should be ours. What a wonderful life we have had together. We have great kids and their families to love us.
Thanks for loving me and accepting me. I feel safe when I am with you. You have really become my very best Friend.”
Although we all miss her, we know that she is now surrounded by family and friends, and enjoying a dance with her beloved father.
Jeneel is survived by: Husband: Richard S. Johnson
Sister: Carolyn Simmons Nielsen (David).
Children: Rick Johnson (Kathy), Michael K Johnson (Rachel), Matthew A. Johnson (Traci).
Grandchildren: Corrine Becerra (Fernando), Tyrell Johnson (Whitney), Mallory Becerra (Cesar), Michael S. Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson Dean, Sarah Johnson Rasmussen (Keegan), Adam L. Johnson (Mel Turner), Anna B. Edmunds (Dallin), Severn M. Johnson.
Great Grandchildren: Adelene and Lucianna Becerra. Zoey and Owen Johnson, Santi, Alex, Jake, Ricky, Ruben Becerra. Connor and Salem Dean, Kalei and Keahi Brown.
Dick would also like to thank all the friends and neighbors that have been such a big help and support to him and Jeneel.
Funeral services will be held at 1125 North 400 West, Centerville, Utah on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 11:00 am. Funeral can also be viewed via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/99736424313
Viewing will be held Thursday, April 2nd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the same location.
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