Johnson, Harold John 1911-2007

JOHNSON, LEHMAN, ANDERSON, VERMILYEA, JAUER, COURVILLE, EASTON, YOERGER, VAN OORT

Posted By: Bruce Atkinson (email)
Date: 8/29/2008 at 00:08:45

MERRILL, Iowa -- Harold J. Johnson, 95, of Merrill passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at his residence.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Larry Fett officiating. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to join the family for a luncheon at the church. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with the family present after 5 p.m. and a prayer service at 6 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.
Harold John Johnson was born Dec. 6, 1911, on the family farm southwest of Merrill, to Carl and Magdalena (Lehmann) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Merrill. He received his education at a country school near his home and later attended school in Merrill.
He was united in marriage to Phyllis Anderson on Nov. 12, 1937, in Merrill. The couple farmed and raised stock cows in Plymouth and Washington Townships until their retirement in 1980. In 1970, the couple built their home in Merrill and continued to actively farm for several more years.
He worked through the A.S.C. program for 20 years. During this time, he worked as a corn sealer for five years and a bin site foreman for four years. He had served as a committeeman for Plymouth Township in Plymouth County for 20 years and served as chairman of the township for several years. He also served as a school director for Plymouth Township for 15 years and as the township assessor for Washington Township for 12 years.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He loved to have his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren come to visit. He enjoyed "tinkering" around the garage and designing his gadgets. He enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle and rummy. He had a deep appreciation of music and actively played the organ and accordion. He loved to visit and reminisce the "old days" with his family and friends. At age 95, he still took care of his own yard and was proud to be Merrill's oldest resident.
Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Phyllis of Merrill; three children, Gerald Johnson and his fiancee, Ilenne Rath of Merrill, Janice Vermilyea and her husband, Gaylen of Omaha and Ronald Johnson and his wife, Teresa of Hinton, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Kim (Jim) Jauer, Clark (Andrea) Johnson, Mitch Johnson, Todd (Jodi) Vermilyea, Troy Vermilyea, Kyle Johnson, Beth Courville and Ryan Johnson; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elsie Easton of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Meta Yoerger and Emma Van Oort; two brothers, Arnold and Gerd Johnson; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Johnson.
Pallbearers will be Clark Johnson, Mitch Johnson, Todd Vermilyea, Troy Vermilyea, Kyle Johnson and Ryan Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be Kim Jauer and Beth Courville.

~Sioux City Journal of 13 April 2007