Leola (Schear) Johansen

Published by editor on Mon, 11/10/2025 - 6:55am

Leola (Schear) Johansen, 103, quietly passed away November 5, 2025 at the Franklin Country View Care Center in Hampton. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 10, at Woodley Funeral Home, Hampton. Burial will follow at Lindenwood Cemetery, Geneva. Visitation will be 1 hour before the service at Woodley Funeral Home. Those wishing to share an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Cemetery Society at the Geneva Methodist Church.

Leola was born June 22, 1922, to Thomas and Lourena (Becker) Schear near Geneva, Iowa. She graduated from Geneva High School in 1940. She was united in marriage to Evanel Johansen on April 15, 1942. When Evanel returned home from the Army in 1946 they bought a small farm outside Geneva where they lived for 39 years. Together they raised two daughters, Cassandra and Sherry.

Leola worked in hot lunch at Geneva Consolidated School/Ackley-Geneva Jr. High from 1958 – 1978. She so enjoyed serving the kids, especially the ones who liked her cooking! She was a member of the Geneva Methodist Church and was secretary for the Geneva Cemetery Society for many years.

After retirement, they moved to Hampton, Iowa in 1985. She joined the Hampton Senior Center and it was her home away from home after Evanel’s passing. She was grateful for her new friends and loved playing cards, bingo, the wonderful meals and everything entertaining at the center.

Leola especially treasured being with her family. Her mother taught her to quilt, and it was her favorite pastime. She made many beautiful quilts over the years. She also enjoyed bird watching, gardening, fishing and sewing.

Leola was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Lourena Schear, her husband Evanel, her daughter Cassandra Lepley, and her brothers and sisters-in-law Robert Schear (missing in action WWII), Dallas and Heraldine Schear, Don and Delores Schear, sister Barbara Campbell, brother-in-law Ken Campbell, and special friend Duane Anderson.

She is survived by her daughter Sherry (Terry) Voy, Ames: three grandchildren: Jeff Bahr, Eldora; Jim (Shelby) Bahr, Leon; Rhonda Clause, Eldora; six great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory