Johnson, Harold J. 1911 - 2007

JOHNSON, LEHMANN, ANDERSON

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/10/2010 at 22:20:03

Harold J. Johnson

Date of Death
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Merrill, Iowa

Harold J. Johnson, 95,of Merrill passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at his home in Merrill, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 14, 2007 at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars with Reverend Larry Fett officiating. Immediately following the funeral everyone is invited to join the family for a luncheon at the church prior to the interment services at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa. Visitations will be after 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 13, 2007 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the family present to greet friends after 5:00 p.m. followed by a 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service.

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.

Harold John Johnson was born December 6, 1911 on the family farm southwest of Merrill, Iowa to Carl and Magdalena (Lehmann) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Merrill. Harold received his education at a country school near his home and later attended school in Merrill. Harold was united in marriage to Phyllis Anderson on November 12, 1937 at Merrill, Iowa. The couple farmed and raised stock cows in Plymouth and Washington Townships until their retirement in 1980. In 1970, Harold and Phyllis built their home in Merrill and continued to actively farm for several more years.

Harold worked through the A.S.C. program for 20 years. During this time he worked as a corn sealer for 5 years and a bin site foreman for 4 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.

Harold is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Harold 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. Harold loved to visit and reminisce the “old days” with family and friends. At age 95, Harold still took care of his own yard and was proud to be Merrill’s oldest male resident.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Phyllis of Merrill; 3 children: Gerald Johnson and his fiancée Ilenne Rath of Merrill, Janice Vermilyea and her husband Gaylen of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ronald Johnson and his wife Teresa of Hinton, Iowa; 8 grandchildren, Kim (Jim) Jauer, Clark (Andrea) Johnson, Mitch Johnson, Todd (Jodi) Vermilyea, Troy Vermilyea, Kyle Johnson, Beth (Cory) Courville, and Ryan Johnson; 12 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren; and a sister Elsie Easton of Sioux City.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents; 2 sisters, Meta Yoerger and Emma Van Oort; 2 brothers, Arnold and Gerd Johnson; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Johnson.

Source: Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa