White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Mary Kathryn “Kathy” Johnson, 72 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died Monday, September 14, 2026, at Buchanan County Health Center, Independence.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. – Friday, September 18, 2026, at the White Funeral Home, Independence. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.

Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17, 2026, at White Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will continue for an hour before services, Friday, at the funeral home.

Kathy was born March 27, 1954, in Independence, the daughter of Richard William “Dick” Forsythe and Freda Fern (Quinn) Pint Forsythe. She attended school in Independence at St. John Catholic School and went on to receive her GED in 1995. On August 5, 1972, she was united in marriage to Danny Lee Johnson at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence. They started their married life in Littleton, then moved to Rowley, once they started their family they moved to Independence. Kathy worked at Main Restaurant early in her life and then worked for 29 years in the dietary department at the Mental Health Institute in Independence, retiring in 2014.

Kathy was an avid bowler and member of the Pinicon League where she held many officer positions over the years. She received Bowler of the Year in 1991 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002. Kathy enjoyed playing pepper and spending little getaways at the casino playing slots. Later in life, she enjoyed watching the birds at the feeders, especially the hummingbirds, as well as the squirrels taking their share of the food. Her true enjoyment was her grandchildren. She followed all of their events, whether it was in person or online. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 54 years, Danny Johnson of Independence; her children, Danny (Sue) Johnson of Independence, Tonia Thurm of Denver, Iowa, and Steven (Adrianne Thome) Johnson, of Independence; 7 grandchildren, Mitch, Luke, Miranda, Mylee, Tanyr, Evelyn and Steven; 1 great granddaughter, Blakelyne; her siblings, Barbara “Bobbie” Roe of Waterloo, Iowa, Dorothy Clinton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Harold Forsythe of Augusta, Kansas, and Bob (Barbara) Pint of Wichita, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents; 3 sisters, Doris (Francis) Rodgers, Phyllis Postel, and Beulah (Edwin) Skripsky; 1 brother, Donald “Dutch” (Edith) Forsythe; a sister-in-law, Sue Forsythe; and a brother-in-law, Don Roe.

Memorials will be directed to the family to be used for organizations important to Kathy, including the Cedar Valley Hospice

Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com.

White Funeral Home, Independence, Iowa, is caring for the family.