The daughter of John and Mary Tongish Lechner, Leona was born Sept. 15, 1910, in Nebraska City, Neb. Her formal education began in a public school where she stayed for the first three grades. Leona then attended St. Bernard Academy where the Madames of the Sacred Heart taught her through the remainder of grade school. After World War I these Sisters returned to Belgium as they did not receive American citizenship. The Mount Saint Joseph Ursulines took over the Academy in 1920, and these were the teachers Leona had during her high school years. She graduated from St. Bernard Academy in 1928, and received a scholarship to Mount Saint Joseph Junior College. Leona decided instead to enter the novitiate. She came to Mount Saint Joseph for that purpose and was the first young woman from Nebraska to become a Mount Saint Joseph Ursuline. Following a six‑month postulancy, Leona received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1929, and the name Sister Johanna.
Prepared for a teaching apostolate, Sister Johanna’s first assignment was to St. Elizabeth School in Curdsville, Ky. Several assignments later she was teaching at St. Martin School in Flaherty, Ky., when she contracted a cold which led to tuberculosis. Sister Johanna then spent three years at St. Joseph Infirmary in Louisville. She was able to teach again but six years later the tuberculosis returned and she spent another four years at St. Joseph Infirmary. Her teaching efforts turned then to Mount Saint Joseph Academy where she taught English Literature instilling a love for this in the minds of her students. Sister Johanna started a study program of the Great Books for the lay women living in the vicinity of Mount Saint Joseph and met with them regularly. The Marian Chapter of the National Honor Society at Mount Saint Joseph thrived under her guidance. For 12 years the novices benefited from her college classes in English. Sister Johanna had given nearly 40 years of service in the classroom with 20 of these in the Mount Saint Joseph setting.
In bad health for several months, Sister Johanna breathed her last on July 21, 1978. Three days later her funeral Mass was concelebrated by her brother, Father Robert Lechner, C.PP.S., and eight other priests. The homily was given by Father Leonard Alvey. Sister Johanna was buried in the convent cemetery. Her Ursuline sister, Sister Joan Marie, preceded her in death.