Catharine Johnson

Catharine B. (Hauser) Johnson, 75, passed away October 20, 2026, at Country House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Catharine was born February 7, 1951, in Eldora, Iowa, to James and Ellen Hauser, the middle child between her brother, Andrew, and sister, Mary. She grew up attending the Eldora public schools, playing on the varsity basketball and varsity golf teams, singing in the choir, performing in school plays, cheerleading, and working as a lifeguard.

She went on to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and then making her home in Cedar Rapids. After a short time at Merchants National Bank, she joined Perpetual Savings as a teller and accountant. When Perpetual closed, she worked at Montgomery Elevator and Norand before finding her true calling in the accounting department at D.C. Taylor Company. She spent 26 years there, making many lifelong friends, retiring in 2019. Still wanting to work, she followed her former supervisor to Summit Schools, working part time for three years.

Music was the thread that ran through Catharine’s adult life. She sang with the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale from the early 1970’s into the 2020’s. She also sang with the First Congregational Church Chancel Choir, later moving to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir. She performed Renaissance music with Orbis Cantorum (1995-2002) and sang with the Weston Noble Alumni Choir (2008-2015), the Luther College Dorian Choral Retreat Chorus (2017-2022), and Together in Song (2003-2006), a chorus sponsored by the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy.

Catharine is survived by her husband of 47 years, Truman; his daughters, Nicole Smith and Kyrsten Johnson; her brother, Andrew (Katherine) Hauser; niece, Anne Hauser; nephew, James Hauser; her sister, Mary (Gary) Jarstad; and niece, Ashley Jarstad. She was preceded in death by her parents.

There will be a visitation on Friday, November 13, 2026, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A funeral service celebrating Catharine’s life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church,1285 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, presided by Rev. Dr. Randy Argall. A light lunch will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are appreciated to the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale or Westminster Presbyterian Church.