For the Love of Johanne’
By William J. Dell – August 2005
How does one thank an eternal companion who walked this journey we call life together with you for thirty-six years? This month, August 2005, marks the third year since her pain and suffering ended with a merciful Heavenly Father calling her home. It also marks what would have been the fifty-eighth anniversary of her birth. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for sharing His daughter, Johanne’, with me for more than half my life and for the knowledge that He has promised her to me to love through all generations of time and throughout all eternity.
Little did I know when Johanne’ walked into my life 4 December 1965 what a blessing she would be to me, to the daughters she would bear me and to those who would join us for a time along this journey we call life. Little did I know the blessings I would receive because of her love for me, her talents with music and her deep and compassionate concern for those around us. Little did I know of the pains she would have to bear emotionally because of her sweet, gentle and tender heart and physically because of the afflictions she would be called to bear as her time on earth waned. Little did I know of the angels that would be sent to bear her up in times of need physically, emotionally and spiritually. Little did I know of the pure love and joy we would share as we shared our time together on earth.
How grateful I am for her patriotic spirit and service as she followed me around the world as a Navy wife. Her willingness to live in twenty plus quarters, houses and apartments and to make each of them a home for us and our daughters. Her willingness to endure the separations brought about because of the Viet Nam War and unaccompanied transfers. Her willingness to attend military functions, participate with wives clubs and to serve as Ombusman for other Navy wives. Her willingness to be supporting and accepting when she could not know what I did because of the classified nature of my work. How grateful I am for her willingness to do all this and whatever was necessary to help me be successful in my career as a sailor.
How grateful I am for her willingness to be a scouter’s widow. Her willingness to give up vacation time for scout camps, hikes, and training. Her willingness to be the “behind the scenes person” for Courts of Honor and scout dinners. Her willingness to sew and re-sew the countless uniform patches as my scouting assignments changed with each military transfer or Church calling. How grateful I am for her willingness to do all this and to lend her talents to my success as a scout leader.
How grateful I am for her testimony of the Gospel and her example of “enduring to the end.” Her willingness to sit alone with our girls as I served our Father in Heaven in Branch Presidencies, Bishoprics, and various Stake callings. Her willingness to serve when the Lord called, particularly as we served together in the Denver Temple. Her willingness to give and receive “compassionate service.” Her willingness to acknowledge and support me as Patriarch and father to our family. Her willingness to have my mother in our home for eighteen years. Truly it can be said of her that “her price is far above rubies.” How grateful I am for her willingness to do all this and to lend her wholehearted support to my service within the Church. How grateful I am that with me her daughters rise up and call her blessed and reverence her memory by the lives that they live as mothers in Zion.
How grateful I am to our Heavenly Father for the many other memories, joys and trials that we shared together. Johanne’ often said of herself that she could not teach, but I for one know what a great teacher she was. She taught many, including her daughters, homemaking skills and handicraft skills. She taught Gospel lessons when she did not know it. She taught me much as we shared the pain and suffering of her last three years together. She truly learned and taught me by her example to “be patient in affliction” and “endure to the end.” Through all her physical pain and suffering, she kept her faith in her Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and the Atonement. And it is my testimony that when we pass through the veil and are found worthy that we shall join her in the Kingdom of our Father to be together as a family forever. Until then may we all continue to hold her in our hearts until we can hold her in our arms.
It is for certain that I know that I am a better man because of her in my life. I continue to thank my Heavenly Father for her and I will be eternally grateful
For the Love of Johanne’.
