James E Johnson, 18 Dec. 1959 - 13 May 2006

JOHNSON, BUDDENBERG, LENTH, ENGELHARDT

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 5/16/2006 at 10:35:49

James E. Johnson, 46, of High Amana, died Saturday, May 13, 2006, at University Hospitals, Iowa City, following a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford, with the Rev. David Mosher officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, with Pastor Steve Brackett officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be contributed to the Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife, Traci; a son, Travis, and a daughter, Abbey, both at home; his mother, Lolita Engelhardt of Postville; two brothers, Alan Johnson (Kathy) of Postville and Jerry Johnson (Laurie) of Burlington, Wis.; two sisters, Lianne Ryan (Ken) of Port Lavaca, Texas, and Robyn Gerleman (Dave) of Plainfield, Iowa; 12 nieces and nephews; his father- and mother-in-law, Lorraine and JoAnn Lenth of Postville; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Terry (DeAnn) Lenth and Tim (Melisa) Lenth, all of Luana.
He was preceded in death by his father and a stepfather, Oran Engelhardt.

James Earl Johnson was born Dec. 18, 1959, in Postville, Iowa, the son of Earl and Lolita Buddenberg Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He graduated from Postville High School in 1978. He married Traci Lenth on June 28, 1986, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. Jim actively pursued his love of agriculture with a career involving dairy farming and over 18 years of employment with the Amana Society Farms beef and crops division.

Jim was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford. He served as president of the church council and chairman of the capital campaign for Trinity. He was chief of the Amana Volunteer Fire Department. He also was involved with establishing sanitary systems for High and West Amana. He and Travis shared a love for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Jim was recently celebrated by the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society as the outstanding 2006 spokesperson from Eastern Iowa, sharing this honor with his daughter, Abbey, who was chosen the 2006 Girl of the Year. He spoke from his heart when he said "Take my hand my friend, and I will help you through this." Jim lived these words every day.

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Cedar Rapids Gazette, 15 May 2006, Edition: F, Page: 6B, Record Number: 2206693