Marcella Mae Wandersee-Johnson

Marcella Mae Johnson, 77, of Severance, CO, went home to Heaven to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 15, 2026, with her family by her side. Throughout her final weeks, Marcella continually expressed her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, saying daily, “God is good all the time!”

Marcella was born on May 11, 1949, in Rockford, MN, the youngest of 5 children to Eleanor Ida Marie Klammer-Wandersee and Reuben Fredrick Wandersee. She was raised alongside her siblings, Stanley, Evangeline “Vangie”, Marilyn, and David, in an old church building her father had remodeled into their family home. Marcella fondly remembered attending church with her mother and siblings as a child, experiences that laid the foundation for the deep and enduring faith she carried throughout her life. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and remained devoted to the Lord all her days. While living in Minnesota, Marcella welcomed her two daughters, Sheila Marie and Sherri Lee. At age 21, she moved to the mountains of Colorado, where she later welcomed her third child, Richard Eugene. Her final church home was Peace with Christ Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO. Her resting place will be at Evergreen Memorial Park in Evergreen, CO.

Marcella spent 44 years living in the Conifer and Pine mountain communities while raising her family. The mountains always held a special place in her heart. She loved long walks surrounded by nature, being near the water, fishing, kayaking, boating with her grandchildren, and soaking in the beauty of God’s creation. Marcella deeply adored all of her grandchildren and treasured watching them grow throughout the years. Her grandchildren loved visiting her home, where there was always an adventure, creative projects, laughter, learning, and unconditional love waiting for them. As her older grandchildren graduated and moved out of the area, she later moved to Severance, CO. to be closer to her youngest grandchildren.

Marcella was a woman of deep faith, creativity, resilience, intelligence, humor, compassion, and determination. She wore many hats throughout her life and approached each one with purpose and hard work. Over the years, she worked as a licensed beautician, cashier, bartender, Tupperware salesperson, school bus driver, craft maker, mail carrier, restaurant worker, babysitter, managed a residential construction company, was a Certified Nurse Assistant, provided home health care, and was a host-home provider for adults with special needs. She also served in disability respite and senior care settings, where she provided compassionate support, creative activities, nutrition assistance, and daily supervision to ensure those in her care felt safe, valued, and included. She also lovingly cared for her mother-in-law, Dottie, and countless others in ways both large and small. Marcella opened not only her heart but also her home, often welcoming in people who were struggling or in need of temporary help, offering them care, shelter, encouragement, and support during difficult seasons of life. Marcella understood that, “It is God who works in you to will, and to act, in order to fulfill his good purposes.” Philippians 2:30.

Marcella believed every day had a God-given purpose. She often reminded others, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Her” faith was woven into every part of her life. She loved attending church, reading Scripture, volunteering in ministry, and encouraging others through both words and actions. Even during difficult times, Marcella continued praising the Lord and reminding her family that “God is good all the time.”

Marcella was remarkably talented and resourceful. Gifted with creativity and determination, she built a home and remodeled fourteen others throughout her lifetime. She had the Midas Touch wherever she went. She and her husband Rick, whom she considered her soulmate, shared a deep love for building, fixing, remodeling, and creating together during their 20 years of marriage. Marcella had an incredible ability to stretch a dollar, make wise financial decisions, save carefully, and invest thoughtfully. She rarely wasted anything and loved repurposing everyday items — even turning an old glass bottle into her favorite water bottle if it meant saving money and avoiding waste.

Marcella possessed a deep curiosity and lifelong desire to learn. If there was something she did not know, she researched it thoroughly. She loved gathering information, studying the weather, journaling faithfully for decades, listening to books to expand her knowledge, and teaching herself how to play musical instruments.

Art was one of Marcella’s greatest joys. As a child, she loved drawing and coloring birds, and as an adult, she became especially known for bringing birds to life on canvas. Her artwork was displayed in galleries, shared on Facebook, and recognized with awards over the years. She also loved sewing, crocheting, macramé, painting, puzzles, and crafting of all kinds. She lovingly crocheted mittens, hats, scarves, and other handmade items to donate to those in need. She made clothing for her children when they were young, teaching them creativity, practicality, and life skills along the way.

Marcella was also an avid gardener with what her family lovingly called a “plant addiction.” She rarely let a plant die and delighted in propagating and sharing them with others. She even carried plants from her childhood home as she moved throughout her life, and found joy in creating beautiful gardens wherever she lived. Her children fondly remember walking through her gardens, eating fresh vegetables, and learning from her extensive knowledge of plants and nature. Marcella also had a tremendous love for birds. She loved feeding them, watching them, learning about them, listening to their songs, and painting them. She could often be found quietly enjoying God’s creation through the simple beauty of birds in her yard.

Marcella valued healthy living and embraced an organic lifestyle long before it became popular. She enjoyed cooking wholesome meals, learning about nutrition, and finding natural ways to care for herself and her family. Somehow, she could make almost anything taste delicious and always kept food stocked away in case someone needed to be fed.

Marcella touched countless lives with her quick wit, playful sense of humor, intelligence, and generosity. She loved making silly faces, cracking jokes, singing personalized birthday songs, and making others laugh. She had a special gift for talking with strangers, including people who felt lonely or left out, and making them feel noticed, welcomed, and valued. Her warmth and humor naturally drew people to her.

Her greatest joy in life was her family. Marcella fiercely loved, protected, and provided for her three children and all of her grandchildren. Known affectionately as “Grammacella,” she always had some adventure waiting whenever family arrived — “Ready, set, go!” often meant heading to the art studio, exploring outdoors, gardening, kayaking, boating, attending sporting events to cheer on her grandchildren, or discovering something new together. Through these moments, she shared not only creativity and knowledge, but also her steadfast faith in Jesus Christ. Marcella also deeply adored her siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and treasured the special relationships she shared with her extended family throughout her life.

Marcella is survived by her children: Sheila Farneth and husband Don Farneth; Sherri McDaniel and husband Scott McDaniel; Richard Nethery Jr. and wife Jennifer Nethery; and stepson Darin Johnson and wife Jennifer Johnson; as well as former spouse Richard Nethery Sr. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Daniel Farneth, Joseph Farneth, Luke McDaniel, Sam McDaniel and fiance Eve Scheuermann, Micaela Nethery, Malia Nethery, Evan Johnson and wife Destiny, Ryan Johnson, and great-granddaughter Winnie Farneth; along with siblings Stanley Wandersee, Vangie Peikert, Marilyn Seifert, and David Wandersee. Marcella was preceded in death by former spouses Robert Arens, Cliff Cockburn, and Rick Johnson.

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Grammacella, we will forever cherish and remember your love for family, witty sense of humor, artistic spirit, perseverance, hard work, helping hand to the needy, and, most importantly, steadfast faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You will be deeply missed until the day we join you in Heaven with Jesus and all the saints!