Iva Mae Danielson

Iva Mae (Mickelson, Johnson) Danielson passed peacefully from this world March 13 at age 100. She was born Feb. 24, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Ed and Constance (Berg) Mickelson.

Iva attended Lincoln school in Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wheaton College. She married Walter Johnson on Aug. 29, 1949. Wally passed away in 1964.

For nearly 20 years, Iva devoted herself to her high school English students, first at Marshall High School and then at Hamilton High School, both in Milwaukee. She became chair of the English department and was beloved by her students, so much so that a group of 1971 graduates visited her at her home each year at the Christmas holidays. The visits continued through this past holiday season.

In 1983, she retired from teaching and became the librarian at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield. She shared her love of good literature while teaching at the Elmbrook Study Center. She especially appreciated C.S. Lewis.

In 1990, Iva married Elvin (Al) Danielson, her widowed former brother-in-law, and became stepmother to niece Lynn and nephew Dean Danielson. Iva and Al enjoyed 18 years of a marriage filled with music; travels, especially to Norway; and annual weeks in Door County with Lynn, her husband Tim, and their children Ross and Marie. Al passed away in 2008.

Iva and Al were devoted Christians and active members of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield.

Iva is survived by her stepdaughter Lynn Danielson (Tim Chapman) of Madison, stepson Dean Danielson (Elizabeth) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, sister Gayle Hooper of Brookfield, granddaughter Marie Chapman of Los Angeles, grandson Ross Chapman (Siobhan) of Darien, Connecticut, great-granddaughters Celine and Violet Chapman of Darien, and niece Jessica Teramura of Brookfield.

Memorials may be made to Elmbrook Church. A memorial service will take place Friday, April 10, with a visitation starting at 1 p.m. in Elmbrook Church's chapel. The service is at 2 p.m. with dessert and coffee following. Elmbrook Church is located at 777 Barker Road, Brookfield. There will be a private burial at Arlington Park Cemetery in Greenfield.