JOHNSON, Hobert K.

JOHNSON, SARGENT, BLEAKLY, COZINE, MARTIN, HICKEY, LANE, OREILLY, BAKER

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 6/30/2008 at 11:27:54

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Monday, June 23, 2008

Hobert K. "Hobe" Johnson 85, of Cherokee, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral services were held June 21 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cherokee, with Rev. Magrey deVega, Rev. Herbert Johnson and Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. Military rites were performed at the graveside by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W., and Masonic services were performed on Friday evening, June 20, at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, which was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Hobert Johnson was born Sept. 10, 1922 at Ida Grove, to George W. and Mabel (Sargent) Johnson. He graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1940, and as a member of the National Guard, was sent to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. While he was there, war broke out, and Hobe was sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey, then shipped overseas in February of 1941. He landed in Ireland, and then was stationed in North Africa, Tunisia and finally Naples, Italy. When the war ended, he was sent to Switzerland, where he received his discharge papers and sent home to the United States. While in the service, Hobe served as a medic, and received the Bronze Star for exceptional meritorious conduct ,plus several other medals of distinction.

On July 23, 1945, Hobe married his high school sweetheart, Mary Bleakly, and on Father's Day in 1952, the couple were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Deborah.

Hobe, as many knew him, was employed by Rock Island Lumber Company and then Champion Electric. In December of 1956, he went into business for himself, Hobe Johnson Electric Service.

Hobert was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Cherokee and a faithful member of the choir for 50 years. He was blessed with a beautiful tenor voice, and for years shared his talent as a soloist at many churches, musicals, and organizations. He was a 50 year member of Speculative Lodge #307 A.F. & A.M. and also a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, of which he and his wife served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron in 1955. Hobe was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Abu-Bekr Shrine Temple, the Cherokee Shrine Club, the Cherokee Flying Carpets, the Cherokee Country Club, the American Legion and the V.F.W.

Hobert enjoyed music, golfing and fishing and was devoted to his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and best friend Mary on Sept. 22, 2002; an infant brother George, a brother Fred, a brother Arlo; and a sister Charlotte.

He is survived by a daughter Deborah Cozine and her husband Mark of Cherokee; four grandchildren: Jerud Cozine and his wife Cassy of Cherokee, Joshua Cozine of Los Angeles, Calif., Katy Martin and her husband Ed Hickey of Lawrence, Kan.and Leah Martin and her fiancée Jon Lane of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and one great -grandson, whom he adored, Ethan Cozine.

Also surviving are his twin brother Herbert Johnson of Arthur; a sister, Lois O'Reilly of Ida Grove; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Johnson of Ida Grove and Esther Bleakly of Cherokee; a brother-in-law, George Baker of Omaha, Neb. and numerous nephews and nieces.