Alma A. Johanen, nee Seemann, age 89, of West Bend, met her Savior on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the Samaritan Health Center in West Bend.
She was born July 14, 1922, on the family farm in Smith County, Kansas to the late Wilheim and Elizabeth (nee Rahjes) Seemann. Alma grew up on this farm with her 12 siblings and was raised in a very loving Christian family. She attended county school. When Alma was in her early twenties, she moved to West Bend with some of her family members. Together they started a family restaurant, located on Main Street and named it "The Three Sisters". This is where she met Matt Johanen (Jauhiainen). On April 17, 1949, they were united in marriage in Fond du Lac. Matt preceded her in death on July 7, 1998.
Alma was a member of Pilgrim Ev. Lutheran Church in West Bend. Her faith was a very large part of her life. She loved to cook. Her meals were created from scratch, with the basics from a recipe card.
She is survived by her three children, Eric Johanen of West Bend, Karl (Alice) Johanen of West Bend, and Ruth (Terry) Bohn of Naples, FL; four grandchildren, Andrea (Richard) Neault, Kaitlin (friend, Tim) Bohn, Brett (Rachel) Johanen, and Michael (friend, Cindy) Bohn; one great-granddaughter, Ayla Neault; two sisters, Marie Wangerin of Kansas and Priscilla Porter of Nebraska; two brothers, Paul Theodore (Kay) Seemann of Kansas and Thomas Seemann of Kansas; sister-in-law, Joanne Seemann of Kansas; brother-in-law, Raymond Grauerholz of Kansas; other relatives and friends.
Alma was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 50 years, Matt Johanen; five sisters and their spouses, Doris (Theodore) Strege, Wilma (Leland) Wangerin, Ruth Seemann, Julie (Robert) Landvatter, and Cecilia Grauerholz; three brothers, Paul Christian Seemann, John Seemann, and Rudolph Seemann; four sisters-in-law, Martha Jauhiainen, Sylvia Mosko, Mayme Vander Hook, and Elvi Hueler; four brothers-in-law, Harland Wagerin, Benjamin Porter, Donald Jauhiainen, and Eino Johnson (Jauhiainen).
Funeral services in remembrance of Alma will be held on Saturday, January 14th at 12:30 pm at Pilgrim Ev. Lutheran Church, 462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend. Rev. Christopher Raffa will officiate. Burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park. Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 11:00 am until the time of the service. Memorials to Alzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the Samaritan for the constant and special care they have given to Alma for the past 6 years.