Johnston, Maurice Stanley 1910-2002

JOHNSTON, GROENENBOOM, DOP, OVERTON, MALLORY

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 20:03:00

KNOXVILLE - Maurice Stanley Johnston, 92, of Knoxville, died Sunday, Dec. 15, at Pella Regional Health Center.

His funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Knoxville. Burial: Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Visiting hours at Bybee & Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville begin 9 a.m. Tuesday, with family present 3-8 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials: Hospice of Pella or the Union Liberty Church of Bussey.

Maurice Stanley Johnston was born Aug. 20, 1910, in Kirkville to Jediah and Effie Johnston. He received his education in the Kirkville School. In 1928, he joined the United States Navy and served on the U.S.S. Arizona.

In 1932 he married Ada Groenenboom. They had six children: Arden, Russell, Dwight, Charles, Maureen and Marjorie. Ada died in 1975.

In 1976 Maurice married Carolyn Groenenboom Dop of Oskaloosa. Carolyn died in 1988.

In 1992 Maurice married Laurabelle Overton Mallory, who died in 1998. Maurice lived in Knoxville most of his life except 1976-90, when he lived in Oskaloosa.

Maurice began employment at the Knoxville VA Medical Center in 1934 and retired as chief of the protective section in 1974, completing 43 years of government service. He was an active member of Kiwanis International. In 1989 he was elected president of the Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club and in 1995, at 84 years of age, served as state lieutenant governor.

His current memberships include the Knoxville Morning Kiwanis Club, First Christian Church of Knoxville and National Association of Retired Federal Employees. In 1984 he was ordained into ministry by the Association of Fundamental Ministers and Churches at New Hope Church near Ottumwa. He filled pulpits for pastors on vacation and as interim pastor.

Survivors include his children and spouses: Arden and Eleanor Johnston of Dubuque, Russell Johnston of Pleasantville, Dwight and Ruth Johnston of Knoxville, Charles and Kathy Johnston of Omaha, Neb., Maureen Rank of Des Moines and Marjorie and Harris Kuiper of Russell; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five stepchildren, and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers: Clyde, Guy, Clarence, Paul and Dale; and three sisters: Margaret, Marie and Helen.

The Oskaloosa Herald, December 16, 2002