Johnson, Voyle Clark 1892-1978

JOHNSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Monona County CC (email)
Date: 7/7/2006 at 08:54:36

Johnson, Voyle Clark ~ 1978

Voyle Clark Johnson was born February 1, 1892 in Ute, Iowa in a house that still stands less than a block from the main intersection in Ute. He passed away in Mountain View, California, Sunday, October 15. (1978)

His parents, Mr. And Mrs. J. C. Johnson, spent a few years in old Moorhead and then in the late 90’s moved to the farm in Jordan township two miles southwest of Soldier.

Voyle graduated from St. Olaf College at the age of 18 in 1910. He later obtained a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, a law degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University. On occasion he taught school in Nebraska, Texas, and Chicago.

During World War I he served in the air corps and received his wings at the University of California in Berkley.

From the close of World War I he devoted his life to the practice of law, spending some years working for large law firms and four years as Assistant State’s Attorney prosecuting criminal cases in Cook County (Chicago, Illinois). Most of those years, however, were devoted to the private practice of law and engaging in business ventures.

In 1930 he married the former Marguerite (Daisy) Mair, who died about a year ago. To that union one child was born, namely Robert Mair Johnson, an attorney in Palo Alto, California.

Also surviving is a granddaughter, Katherine Johnson, also of Palo Alto, a step-daughter, Gladys Powell of Goleta, California, and his youngest brother, Elliott A. Johnson, a Houston, Texas attorney.

Voyle was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Helen, and two brothers, Glenn and Charles.

Voyle was a victim of pernicious anemia from 1932 until his death. As a result of a spinal block utilized in connection with medical tests in the fall of 1932 Voyle became a cripple for the remainder of his life. For about 40 years he was able to walk up to 200 feet with the assistance of two sturdy canes in a period of about twenty minutes. In 1971 or 1972 he broke a leg and from that time forward was confined to a wheelchair. His wife, Daisy, was paralyzed from the waist down from 1942 until her death due to an auto accident. In spite of those overwhelming handicaps they kept the home together, reared and educated their children and did all without any aid from charity or the government. They were great inspiration by their examples of ingenuity, courage, determination and cheerfulness. A visit with them would make any normal person ashamed to ever complain.

Following cremation the ashes will be placed in a cemetery in California. Voyle will be remembered by many in the Soldier community .
~ unknown paper or paper date