Margarete Johnson Obituary

Margarete Johnson (Hafner) 84, passed away peacefully on March 11 2026. She was born in Freiburg, Germany in 1942 in the middle of World War II. She was the first child of Helmut and Frida Hafner. Other siblings followed later. She grew up with her sister Sieglinde during the early years of the war. Her brothers Karlheinz and Michael were born after the war. After school and apprenticeship as a bank clerk, she went to Paris, France as an au pair. There she met and fell in love with Carroll F. Johnson who was a member of the US Army. They married in 1965, moved to Sacramento in 1966 and later to Lawrence, where Carroll completed his studies in pharmacy.

For many years, their professional life was centered in Chicago, where Margarete worked for various airlines and Carroll worked as a pharmacist. When they retired, they moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts and finally back to Lawrence in 2001, where Carroll and Margarete lived until the End of their lives. Their beloved dogs were always with them. Annabelle's passing last year was a heavy weight to carry for Margarete, as her dog always was her loyal companion in good or bad times.

Margarete made a name for herself here in Lawrence as a Master Gardener and as a supporter of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Her greatest passion was her garden, which she nurtured and cared for. She was involved in a variety of volunteer activities as well. Margarete was a popular person, for everywhere she went, as no matter who, where or when, she always offered a helping hand within her kind nature.

Margarete's passion for gardening wasn't limited to her own garden. She reached out to the community and began a relationship with Monarch Watch that spanned 23 years. Monarch Watch partnered with the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) to create a garden that supported their mission to conserve monarchs and pollinators and Margarete volunteered to help. In 2004, Margarete and a small group of fellow EMGs established a butterfly-shaped garden with a rich mixture of native and cultivated plants suited for monarchs and pollinators. Soon, as the plantings were expanded through the efforts of Margarete and the EMGs, the garden contained at least 150 varieties that bloomed from early spring to late in the fall. Many selections were based on Margarete's experience. Monarch Watch began an outreach program known as the Monarch Waystation program in 2005 and the garden started by Margarete and colleagues was designated as Monarch Waystation No.1. There are now over 55 thousand registered Monarch Waystations worldwide. Margarete worked tirelessly in the garden, at least 300hrs per year in the early years, and was once quoted as saying "Being there in the garden is like being in church on Sunday morning…it's healing." Over the years, the garden earned the top award for the EMG Search for Excellence in Kansas and internationally and gained a reputation as a place to visit to see the wide variety of plants and insects. Margarete urged people to visit - "You should come sit … watch the butterflies, have your lunch," she said. "Just enjoy yourself."

Margarete gave educational talks in which she described the joys and challenges of developing and maintaining a Monarch Waystation. Last spring, at a celebration of the 20th year of the garden, Margarete received a certificate in recognition for her service that read in part – "Monarch Watch recognizes her instrumental involvement in creating and growing the first Monarch Waystation into a place that inspires the creation of pollinator habitats worldwide".

A funeral Ceremony for Margarete is set for 1 pm, Sunday, March 15th, 2026 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence KS. A Visitation is set from 10.30 to 12.30 pm.

Those who knew Margarete will remember her as a wonderful, very strong woman. She will be forever loved and deeply missed.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.