JOHNSON, Howard R. (1931-2006)

JOHNSON

Posted By: Don Boucher (email)
Date: 3/2/2013 at 10:55:46

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 3-19-2006:

Howard Ray Johnson, 74, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Wednesday, March 15, 2006 from COPD at Kavanagh on Grand. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 20, 2006 at Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home, with interment following at Norwalk Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 19 at Southtown Funeral Home.

Howard was born March 17, 1931 to Howard W. and Flossie Fern (Foust) Johnson in Spring Hill, Iowa. Howard attended schools in Warren County. On September 13, 1949, he was united in marriage with Charlotte Drake of Milo, Iowa, in Bethany, Missouri. They lived in Warren County for 3 years, and then moved to Des Moines.

He worked for Green Colonial Heating and cooling for 22 years until the plant closed. He also worked for the city of Des Moines for 10 years. He went back to welding at Economy Forms, where he had to retire at age 58 due to two heart attacks. In 1994, he became a widower and this prompted him to sell his house in 1995 and move to Diamond Head Lake in Guthrie County. With too much time on his hands, he took a summer job for 3 summers of running the dredge at the lake. He always put his all into his work. Howard had a very full life. He loved his family, Las Vegas, the Hawkeyes, Prairie Meadows, fishing, camping and being everyone's mechanic and carpenter.

Howard will be very deeply missed by all who know him, especially his children, Cindy (Mark) Snodgrass, Indianola; Peggy (Terry) Mitchell, Dexter; Tim, Ely, Nevada; Tom, Des Moines; Ted (Tina), Des Moines; Jennifer (Roy) Coleman, Des Moines; Charlene (Jerry) Cooper, Earlham; and Nancy (Jim) Paxton, Des Moines. Howard is also survived by sisters, Nellie (Chuck) Butler, Reno, NV; Marry McCulley, Melcher; Betty (Will) Feldbrugg, St. Paul, MN; seven sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to being a great-great-grandpa to Chaz Howard Waters, who is due March 20. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and his Aunt Helen of Indianola.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 45 years, Charlotte; grandson, Joe Snodgrass; sister, Harriett Hildebrand and brother, Walter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to be donated to Kavanagh House in Howard's name. Howard's family would like to give a special thanks to the nurses and staff at the Kavanagh House and also the in-home staff for the love and tender care they gave our Dad for seven months. Also, a special thanks to Marie Neer for her love and caring of our family. God bless each and every one of you.