Larry Warren Kracht Johnson 1947-2011

KRACHT, JOHNSON, BALLUE, VANDEL, BURTCHETT, PETERSON, PURKEYPILE, BACON, DOWNARD, OLSEN, EMERSON, HOULIHAN

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 8/14/2011 at 06:07:21

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa August 3, 2011)

JOHNSON, Larry Warren, 63, of Osceola, Iowa, died on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa, with Rev. Richard Queener officiating. Burial was in the Van Wert Cemetery, Van Wert, Iowa, with Military Honors by Cowl-Scott American Legion Post # 80 of Leon.

A memorial fund has been established by the family.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa August 3, 2011)

LARRY WARREN JOHNSON ... Larry Warren Johnson, age 63 of Osceola, Iowa, son of Merrill Kracht and Evelyn Kracht Johnson, was born October 30, 1947 in Crofton, Nebraska and died July 26, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

When Larry was 18 months old, his father died. His mother married Robert Clayton Johnson, who adopted Larry as his son.

Larry lived in Milo, Iowa, graduating from Southeast Warren High School in 1967. He married Linda Jo Ballue on August 14, 1968 at Milo. Larry then served his country in the United States Army in Vietnam as a Sergeant.

Three children were born to Larry and Linda: Jodi Lynn, Larry Warren Johnson Jr. "J.R.", and Jill Lin. Larry's career was as an over-the-road semi truck driver, and he was a hard worker.

Larry enjoyed collecting John Deere tractors, being a rock hound, driving Fords, and was an avid Democrat. He liked talking on the phone, debating with people, smoking, being on his computer, and tending the fruit trees and yellow roses in his yard. Larry loved his kids and grand kids and was proud of them all. He said there was"no other feeling in the world like being a Dad."

Preceding Larry in death were his fathers, Merrill Kracht and Robert Johnson; brothers Gary and Bobby Johnson; niece Sharon Vandel; and Linda Johnson, the mother of his children, on March 22, 2011.

Surviving are his children: Jodi Burtchett and husband Lawrence "L.C." of Leon, Iowa, J.R. Johnson and wife Lacey of Ankeny, Iowa, and Jill Peterson and husband Joshua of Dallas Center, Iowa; three grandchildren: Bryan Purkeypile, Alexander Bacon, and Landry Johnson; mother Evelyn Johnson of Van Wert, Iowa; sisters: Patty Downard and husband Doug "Mater" of Van Wert, Caroline Olsen and husband Dave of Norwalk, Iowa, and Marcia Emerson of Van Wert; brothers Lynn Johnson and wife Joyce and James Johnson and wife Edie, all of Grand River, Iowa; companion Kelly Houlihan and her daughters Zoe and Storm of Chicago, Illinois; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.