Edith “Johnny” L. Ullmann April 07, 1928 – January 19, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Edith “Johnny” L. Ullmann died at home on January 19th, 2019, she was 90 years young. Edith was born April 7th, 1928 in Cherokee, Iowa to Dr. Chester H. Johnson and Clara A.(Alderson) Johnson. She attended the local school system, graduating from Wilson High School in 1946.
She got her nickname, Johnny, at University of Colorado, Boulder, where she received her BA in Sociology in 1950. In 1949 she married Donald B. Davis of Longmont, CO and they established residence in Johnstown, CO on Idaho Street and later moved to a new home south of town, where they raised four children. She returned to college earning her MA in Special Education for the Visually Handicapped in 1967 from the University of Northern Colorado.
On February 15th, 1974 she married Frederick Ullmann and they established their home together at his farm south of Johnstown, later moving to 901 W. South 1st St. Fred died February 16th, 1994. Edith “Johnny” continued to maintain their home in Johnstown until her death. Edith worked briefly for BOCES, then joined St. Vrain Valley School district in 1969, where she developed and taught the first mainstreamed and special needs educational format for visually impaired students until her retirement in 1993.
Her duties included teaching all grade levels, K-12, traveling to all schools, from Lyons to Dacono, in the district where sight impaired students attended. Edith helped her students learn braille reading, writing and math, but also computers, telephones and other devices not tailored for special needs. She worked with the children and their families at home, school and in the community before formal schooling and after their graduations.
Edith pushed for legislation and funding for special needs children and adults. She was a key consultant in establishing processes for mainstreaming special needs students in Colorado, so they were ready to deal with a sighted world. She earned accolades for her selfless, dedicated work as an educator including honorable mention for Colorado Teacher of the Year in 1975 and the 1991 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.
She was respected in the education community as a pioneer for many of her innovations and work over 26 years of public education employment. Her students of 40 plus years ago continued to write and call her clear up to her death. “As I was growing up, I used to kiddingly and affectionately refer to her as my second mother,” one said.
She’d say, “Just call me Johnny” to most who knew her; she radiated goodness to all she met. Johnny had a fiery spirit, a big happy heart, loved to visit and was committed to giving her all in service to others. Besides her calling in special education, she was a dedicated, loving wife, a nurturing mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and loving friend to all.
She loved attending the school events of her children, her grandchildren and the children of her friends. She was a dedicated member of several service organizations including: PEO, Delta Kappa Gamma, Cheerful Learners, Kilkare Klub and Estrellita. She served her church community, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church as the church organist for 60 years and taught three generations of catechism to the youth of the church.
She supported the elderly, delivering Meals on Wheels until age 84. She helped many others with her time, her love, and her money. This selfless and loving service mindset that she instilled in others continues now, resulting in a more empathetic and caring world.
She was “just Johnny”, but she was so much more to so many. “Do as I do”, Jesus said. I think she has.
Her husband, Fred Ullmann, and her stepson, Tom Ullmann preceded her in death. Grandma Johnny leaves behind children: Claire Messing (Daniel), stepson Ted Ullmann (Judy), stepdaughter in law Barbara Ullmann, Jeff Davis (Jennifer), Kent Davis (Carrie) and Anne Peralta, sixteen grandchildren, many great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and a whole community of people she loved and touched. There will be a Rosary/Visitation at 6:30 pm Friday evening, Feb.
1st, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1000 Country Acres Dr., Johnstown, CO. All are invited and encouraged to share prayers and stories there. A Funeral Mass at 10:00 am Saturday morning, Feb.
2nd at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, will be followed by interment at the Johnstown cemetery and a reception immediately following at St John the Baptist Catholic Church.
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