Ida Johengen Wells

Ida Johengen Wells of Flint, formerly of Caro, age 99, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2015 at Brookdale Grand Blanc. She was born on the family farm on Dutcher Road north of Caro on October 2, 1916. She was so eager to begin her life she couldn't wait for the doctor to arrive and it only cost $5.00 when he did arrive. She was the last surviving child of Lydia Rebmann and Edward Amandrus Johengen. Ida grew up as a child of the Great Depression. She told that one year for Christmas all she got was an orange and carried it around for days. She also lived through the rationing and other hardships of World War II. Those two things during her life caused her to be very frugal. Ida graduated from Akron High School in 1934, and earned a teaching certificate from County Normal School in Caro. She taught at the Barton School, Parsell School, and after her marriage and move to Flint, she taught at the Wolcott School in Flint. Her only child, James Edward Wells, was born September 13, 1942, and she became a stay at home mom. About the time James was three years old, Ida became a single mom. She owned a large home in Flint and was a landlord, and went back to school at Baker Business College to become a secretary. In 1948 she went to work for General Motors where she worked for Fisher Body Plant #2 until changes at the plant forced her into early retirement in 1971. There wasn't much Ida couldn't do. She worked many hours on her home, painting, refinishing floors, hanging wallpaper, mixing concrete and mortar; and one year she even nailed a roof on her garage. She also loved gardening. Being both mother and father to her son, she took him camping and fishing and taught him to love the North country. Ida also got involved in genealogy doing much research on her Johengen and Rebmann descendants. In fact, she spent so much time in the Buffalo, NY library they finally gave her the run of the place. She also researched the Wells descendants and obtained a Michigan Pioneer certificate for her son. Ida also loved to quilt, making more than a dozen quilts over the years. One wool quilt that she made contained scraps from her grandfather Rebmann's tailor shop. Ida is survived by her son, James Edward Wells of Jackson, Mississippi; daughter-in-law, Joyce Ferguson Wells of Jackson, Mississippi; six nephews and four nieces. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward, Chester and Christian Johengen; and one sister, Annabell Johengen Lakey. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Gregg Mayberry officiating. Burial will follow at Almer Township Cemetery in Caro. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee or Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation Information Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm End Time: 2:00 pm Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Service Information Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015 Time: 2:00 pm Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Gregg Mayberry officiating. Cemetery Information Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015 Almer Township Cemetery Address: E Caro Rd & Deckervile Rd Caro, MI 48723 The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m.