Obituary of Anita P. Johnson

Anita P. Johnson, the daughter of Roy and Elva (Lowry) Peterson, was born June 5, 1925. She was raised on a farm south of Newton with her four brothers and five sisters. Anita graduated from the Newton Senior High School with the class of 1943. Anita was united in marriage with Claude H. “Boge” Johnson in Lancaster, Missouri. She worked as a seamstress most of her life and did alterations for the Bridal Sweet in Newton for 20 years. Anita was a race official for many years at race tracks around central Iowa. She enjoyed traveling to all fifty states and to Europe twice, and was a University of Iowa football fan, attending their games for 60 plus years and always traveled to the bowl games. Anita was a member of the Newton Speedway Hall of Fame; the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame; and received the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Heritage Award. Anita died on Sunday, November 9, 2014, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa. She was 89 years old. Anita was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, a son in infancy and several brothers and sisters. Those left to honor Anita’s memory include her sons, Gary (Jane) Johnson of Prairie City, Iowa and Craig (Lene) Johnson of Prairie City, Iowa; her grandchildren, Deborah (Kash) Carter, Brad (Jen) Johnson, Adam (Jessica) Johnson; her great grandchildren, Davis Carter, Keaton Johnson, Kamden Johnson; her sister, Norma Allspach; and her sisters-in-law, Dixie Peterson and Maxine Peterson. A time remembering and celebrating Anita’s life will be Sunday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home. Memorials may be designated in Anita’s name to the donor’s choice or the Knoxville National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum or the Newton Dollars for Scholars family studies emphasis and may be left at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home.