Ann Louise “AJ” Moore Johnson, 76, of Indianola, Iowa passed away Monday, March 23, 2026, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Indianola First United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, April 1.

Ann spent her career working for the Iowa Department of Human Services, beginning at the Warren County office in Child Protective Services and later working in Jasper and Marion Counties. She proved to have great ability with computers and ended her career with DHS working out of Des Moines and traveling around the state to troubleshoot problems with computer systems. She received an award from the governor as an exemplary public employee.

Ann was known across the state as an avid birder. She first began birding with her grandmother, who taught her about birds and took her on many field hikes. She joined the Iowa Ornithologists Union and became a good friend of the well-known Iowa ornithologist Gladys Black, and together they helped to lead Iowans in appreciation for our bird species. Ann became a leader in the Iowa Ornithologists Union, spearheading work with uncommon and rare species. Because of her ability with computers, she kept track of many records for the IOU, contributing to their journal and helping establish the website.

Ann led many groups on field trips including birding tours to Mexico and Arizona. She collaborated on an Iowa field guide, Iowa Birds.

One summer a friend suggested to Ann that during the summer months lull in birding she could enjoy learning about dragonflies and damselflies. She soon became an expert, taking pictures and then creating a website called IowaOdes.org. She developed a pocket field guide to Odonates published by the University of Iowa Press.

Ann’s knowledge of birds and ability with computers led her to creating websites for a number of non-profit organizations, like Audubon chapters and ornithology organizations. Following retirement, she began doing so many of them that she had little time for anything else. She recently estimated she had created 125 websites for various people and organizations. For most of these groups, she set her prices low, knowing the groups had little money to spend. She loved helping with awareness and care of birds and all creation.

From her elementary years, Ann loved sports and would lie on the floor listening to radio coverage of the St Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes. That love never faded and she was able to attend many events, including bowl games and the World Series with her son.

Ann’s greatest love was her son Kurt. She loved her family and friends and was always up for a get together, keeping touch with friends from every segment of her life. She was a loyal friend and a great mother.

Ann is survived by her son, Kurt Johnson; siblings, Kathleen Moore, Philip (Char Heitman) Moore, Carol (Ron) Zumwalt; uncle, Richard Weber; aunt, Marles Moore; former husband, Paul Johnson; nieces and nephews, Jennifer Jones, Andrew Zumwalt, Sam Zumwalt, Rachel Boshart, Rio Heitman Moore; many cousins and other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Marjorie Moore; many aunts, uncles and other family.

Memorials for Ann may be made to Iowa Ornithologists Union or Simpson College.