Marcia Gertner Johnson

A Celebration of Life Service to honor the life and legacy of Marcia Gertner Johnson, age 75, of Jackson, will be held Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson, with a time of visitation and gathering from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. The service will be livestreamed on Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Facebook Page.

Marcia’s preferred charity is ELCA World Hunger.

Marcia Gertner Johnson, the middle daughter of Flossie (Mitchell) and Leo Gertner, was born July 6, 1951, at Windom, MN. She joined older sister, Joan and later welcomed younger sister, Nancy. 

On September 2, 1951, Marcia was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook and confirmed there June 5, 1966.

A happy childhood was spent on the family farm near Westbrook. Marcia enjoyed playing with the children in the Rosehill Township neighborhood and attending their birthday parties.

The Gertner farm was next to Shady Nook School, the last country school in Cottonwood County. Marcia attended school there seven years. She graduated from Storden High School in 1969.

Marcia graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Master of Arts degree in 1973.

Libraries where Marcia worked included Minnesota Valley Regional Library in Mankato, Southwest State Library at Marshall, and Jackson County Libraries. Most of her career was at the Minnesota West Community and Technical College Libraries in Worthington and Jackson.

Marcia was active in 4-H and enjoyed attending county fairs and the Minnesota State Fair for many years after she had been a 4-H member.

On June 16, 1984, Marcia married Van A. Johnson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, wearing the gown that her mother wore on June 16, 1944.

Marcia liked to travel and visited 45 states in the USA. Favorite European cities included Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, London, and Prague. She made five trips to Germany and enjoyed a Martin Luther trip in 2017 and attended the Oberammergau Passion Play in 2010.

Survivors include Van Johnson of Jackson, Marcia's husband of 42 years; her sisters, Joan (James) Anderson of Mitchell, SD and Nancy Gertner (Paul Maggitti) of Windom, MN; sisters-in-law, Judy (James) Olson of Eden Prairie, MN and Pat Blacker (Craig Fullmer) of Yoder, WY; brother-in-law, Charles A. Johnson (Heidi) of Mesa, AZ. Marcia is also survived by her nieces, Sarah Anderson (Troy Torgeson) of Hartford, SD, Danielle Blacker of WY; nephews, Jeremy Olson (Cathy) of Edina, MN, Dain Blacker (Lisa) of Burnsville, MN, and Dylan Blacker (Jasmine) of San Diego, CA.

Marcia died August 8, 2026, at Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, where she received loving care during her last months.