Bennie Dean Johnson

JOHNSON, BAILIFF

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 2/27/2023 at 15:59:57

Bennie Dean Johnson was born on June 7, 1932, in Fontanelle, Iowa the son of Fay R. and Pearle M. (Thorpe) Johnson. Ben was a 1949 graduate of Corning High School. On July 8, 1951, Ben was united in marriage to Dorothy A. Bailiff in Corning, Iowa. Ben served with the Iowa National Guard from January 1, 1950 -- April 10, 1982 retiring as a Sergeant First Class. Ben worked for the Taylor County Engineers Office from 1952 -- 1965, then moved to Lone Tree and worked at the Johnson County Engineers Office. In 1970, Ben became the first Johnson County Zoning Administrator, retiring in 1995. Ben was a past member of the Bedford United Methodist Church, Bedford Fire Department, and Charter Member of the Bedford Jaycees. After moving to Lone Tree, Ben joined the Lone Tree Chamber of Commerce and the Lone Tree Fire Department, where he became Chief. He was also elected to serve on the Lone Tree City Council. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, socializing in downtown Lone Tree, playing the slot machines, and was an avid Hawkeye fan, but most of all, Ben dearly loved to spend time with his family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as his buddy, Jingles "Big Boy".
Ben will be deeply missed by his wife, Dorothy of Lone Tree; his children, Jennifer A. Pettitt and her husband, Allen of Coralville, Joel B. Johnson and his wife, Janene of Waterloo, Wisconsin, and Jill C. Wieder and her husband, Kevin of Iowa City, five grandchildren, Angie (Pettitt) McNeal of Iowa City, Ben (Susan) Pettitt of Belle Plaine, Catie Pettitt of Marengo, Sasha (Johnson) Kohn and Nick Weisensel of Waterloo, Wisconsin and Tyler Johnson of Waterloo, Wisconsin; eight great grandchildren, Nikki, Cecil, Skyler, Kailyn, Danielle, Tommy, Braxton, and Kashton; sisters Helen M. Weeks and her husband Jerry of Indianola, Opal I. Dillard of Indianola and Joyce J. Coffman of Milo; sisters-in-law, Helen Johnson of Grant, Nebraska, Dorothy Johnson of Ogallala, Nebraska, brother-in-law, Leon Blake of Indianola, in-laws, Richard Bailiff and his wife, Darlene of Corning and Raymond Thomas and his wife, Sandy of Corning; and one uncle, George Thorpe of Omaha, Nebraska.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Wayne Henry Johnson, Harvey L. Johnson, Fay "Sprout" Johnson, and Thomas G. Johnson and one sister, Dorothy M. Blake, in-laws, Howard "Doc" Dillard, Raymond "Tucker" Coffman, Rosie Johnson, Evelyn Thomas and Rich and Bev Bohanan.