Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 11, 1987

Cleone OVERHOLTZER JOHNSON of Tingley retires this year after 29 years as an elementary teacher or teacher's aide. Since January of 1966, when Cleone returned to the work force, she has been a teacher's aide in the Mount Ayr Community schools.

After graduation from Tingley High School in 1945 and two years training at Simpson College in Indianol, Cleone taught elementary students - five years at Shannon City, two years at Tingley, and one year at DeSoto.

She was married June 14, 1950, to Dean JOHNSON, who died in August of 1984. The couple had two sons - Robert and Richard "Rich" JOHNSON, and a daughter, Jeanine. All live at Tingley with their families - Mrs. Robert (Jenifer) JOHNSON and their children, Brad, 6, and Jana, almost three; Mrs. Rich (Angie) JOHNSON and Annie, 6; and Mack GREENE and Jeanine and Mack's children, Brandon, 6, and Shayla, 10 months.

While at Tingley High School, Mrs. JOHNSON played basketball and was on a team that missed a state tournament bid by losing to Wiota, who went on to win the state tourney.

She made it to state as a spectator, however. She chaperoned at Tingley girls team that the late "Obie" OBERMEIER took to state in 1952. She also saw Bob and Rich play for Mount Ayr Community in the boys' state tournament in 1973 and Rich again in 1975. Jeanine went to the state girls' track meet in the hurdles.

While at Mount Ayr Community Cleone has enjoyed being in the same school as her three children. This year she saw three grandchildren all start kindergarten here. In addition she was associated with her daughter-in-law Angie who taught second grade this past year and her sister-in-law, Mary OVERHOLTZER, who taught fourth grade.

Interestingly, Mount Ayr Community elementary principal, Larry GILES, and elementary teacher, nancy WILLEY, were students of hers at Tingley.

During the "middle years" her teaching career was interrupted by her desire to be at home with her family when they were little. Jeanine was in the first grade when Cleone again entered the work force.

By that time teacher qualifications had changed and she needed a four-year degree to teach. Instead of going back to school for the needed hours, she opted to become a teacher's aide in the same school her children attended. The job was appealing because it allowed her to be in school the same hours as were her children; on vacation when they were on vacation and home when they were home.

Even at that it was often difficult to keep up with her children's activities - particularly athletic events. There were about two and one-half years between the eldest, Bob; the next, Rich, and the youngest, Jeanine.

The system used at the time they were in high school had boys playing basketball in one town and girls another, with junioo varisty games played first. Spectators with a boy and girl both involved might be at East Union of Afton watching the junior varisty girls play. Then they would dash to Mount Ayr to see varisty boys play, all the same evening! (Now the practice is to play mostly boy-girl doubleheaders.)

Friends remember the enthusiasm and support she brought to hers and other kids playing basketball, particularly one evening at Harlan when the boys team of 1973 had just won the right to get to state. Ropes draped around the floor didn't keep her from congratulating the successful team.

"School is more of a challenge now for both teachers and students. I felt I needed to be in a more personal role with students than ever before," Cleone says. She thinks that technology has a place in the school system by that adequate grounding in the basics is very important too.

"It takes a lot of patience, enthusiasm and dedication to work with youth, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it and am going to miss it," Cleone says.

On June 27, 1987, Cleone plans to be married to Kenneth HOSFIELD, formerly of Ringgold County, now of Elgin, Ill. This means that not only will she be leaving her chosen profession, but the community where she has always lived, to begin a new life in Elgin. She takes with her a wealth of good memories of associations with Ringgold County youth and school staff.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2012