Kay R. Johnson

Mass of Christian Burial for Kay R. Johnson will be held on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Father Nicholas Baker officiating. Rosary will be held at the church on Monday morning prior to the Mass at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be held in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Hebron, Nebraska Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Kay Rose Johnson, 46 years of age, of Carroll, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska with her fiancé, Joel and her children by her side following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Kay was born on February 26, 1968 in Kansas City, the youngest of three children to William and Carolyn (Hiller) Kassebaum. She was baptized in Seward, Nebraska and confirmed in Sutton, Nebraska. Her early education was in Sutton and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1986.

On January 3, 1987, she was united in marriage to Clettis Johnson and to this union three children were born: Vanessa Dyane, Samantha Rose and Richard Scott. Kay worked with her Mom at Adams Land Title for many years. She obtained her CNA and worked at various nursing homes while pursuing her education, graduating from Central Community College in 2000 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She then worked and studied and became a Registered Nurse in 2011. She worked at Lexington Regional Hospital for several years before moving to Norfolk, where she worked at Faith Regional Hospital.

Her passions were family, nursing, music and motorcycling. She will be remembered by many motorcycling friends throughout the US and Canada.

Kay was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2013. She fought a valiant battle at Faith Regional in Norfolk and was accepted into a clinical study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Kay was preceded in death by her grandparents. She is survived by her parents: William and Carolyn Kassebaum of Hastings, Nebraska; her three children: Vanessa Johnson, Samantha Johnson, and Richard Johnson all of Holdrege; her granddaughter, Katrina Rose Johnson of Holdrege; two brothers: Michael Kassebaum and his wife, Jackie of Lawrence, Nebraska, Patrick Kassebaum and his wife, April of Lincoln, Nebraska; fiancé,' Joel Massey of Carroll, Nebraska and his two sons: Justus Massey of Carroll, and Steven Massey of Odessa, Nebraska; five nieces: Dusty McKenna and her husband, Justin of Hastings, Dawn Theer and her husband, David of Lawrence, Nebraska, Danielle Kassebaum of Fairfield, Nebraska, Dakota Kassebaum of Lawrence, Nebraska and Avalon Kassebaum of Lincoln, Nebraska; three great-nieces: Trystin McKenna, Piper McKenna, Preslea Adams; and one great-nephew, Asher McKenna.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Kay's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.