Lew Johnson (1885-1942)

JOHNSON, BOLLEN, CRAIG, VALEN, LUEDERS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/21/2024 at 17:27:27

From Story City Herald January 8, 1942 (page 1 & 5)

SUDDEN DEATH OF LEW JOHNSON

Well Known Story City Man Succumbed to Heart Failure Early Sunday Morning.

Lew Johnson, 56, for many years active as a plumber and heater expert in this place, died Sunday morning at three o'clock in his home here.

He had apparently not been ill but worked about as usual on Saturday. A heart attack, coming suddenly, was the cause of his death.

Funeral rites were held Tuesday afternoon, with prayer service in the home and funeral service at the Grace church, with Rev. Bergman officiating. The singing was by Geo. W. Sowers, with Vernon Anderson at the organ.

The casket bearers were G. H. Kirby, L. C. Richardson, J. G. Pierce, John Ose, Serral Munsen and R. S. Jones. At the beginning of the service Rev. Bergman read the following obituary:

Lew Johnson, son of John and Bertha Johnson, was born near Gilbert, Iowa, on February 20th, 1885, and passed away at his home in Story City on January 4th, 1942.

Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Ames, where John Johnson was the first engineer in the electric plant of the College. Later they moved to a farm southwest of Story City. His father passed away fifty years ago, and his mother twenty.

At the age of 16 Lew left his home and went to Chicago, where he learned the plumbing trade and was employed in that city several years with the Johnson Heat Installation Co., where he had charge of large contracts which took him to various cities.

On August 16th, 1909, he was united in marriage to Dora Bohlen [sic] of Clinton, Iowa. They resided in Chicago a few years, a short time in Ames, then came to Story City where they have made their home ever since.

Mr. Johnson was baptized and confirmed in the St. Petri church in early childhood, but later joined the Big Brothers class of the Grace church. He was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member in good standing.

Lew was a devoted husband, a loyal and most helpful friend, and his ready smile and congenial disposition endeared him to the entire community, which is stunned by his untimely and sudden death.

He leaves his wife, Dora, a sister, Mrs. Evelyn Craig, a nephew, Bill Craig, and his step-father, Hans Valen, all of Story City. Also many other relatives and countless friends. He will be greatly missed but always remembered by them all.

Among those from a distance at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bollen of Cedar Rapids, Chas. Bollen of Denison, Mrs. Henry Lueders of Clinton, and Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Burke of Humboldt. (The Bollens and Mrs. Lueders are brothers and sister of Mrs. Johnson.)