JOHNSON, Steven R. (1941-2022)

JOHNSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/30/2023 at 15:26:51

Steven Robert Johnson
(October 30, 1941 - August 24, 2022)

Steve Johnson, age 80, passed away peacefully at home August 24, 2022, after a life well lived. Please join the family for services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at the Indianola First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held prior to service from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. He was born on October 30, 1941, the son of Robert Joseph and Laurine Mary Johnson of rural Churchville, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm and attended school at Martensdale-St. Mary’s. In 1959, Steve joined the United States Navy to see the world. He served 3 years as an air traffic controller aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet as part of the Pacific Fleet. He was honorably discharged in December, 1962, and held a lifelong love of that experience and was so proud of his service to the country. He then hitchhiked from San Diego back to Churchville where local gal, Carol Davitt, caught his eye. They married and had three sons while Steve worked various shifts at the Firestone Tire & Rubber plant in Des Moines for 16 years. Steve spent many hours trapping, hunting, and fishing in the Midwest states. But the “lure of Alaska” became overwhelming for this outdoorsman who hated walking into that tire factory every day of his life. His younger brother, Michael, was already in Anchorage and encouraged Steve to follow his dreams. Steve quit his job, packed up a travel trailer and his second wife, Louise, and away they went – on the adventure of a lifetime. The next 21 years were spent managing a remote fly-in only fishing lodge on the Talachulitna River 65 air miles northwest of Anchorage. Steve and Louise lived the rural bush life year-round. His youngest brother, Ray, joined him a few years into it – and they constructed one of the most magnificent log lodges in Alaska. Within a few years, all three sons had moved to the lodge to work hard and attend the two-room school 20 miles downriver in Skwentna. May thru August were back-to-back long days of hosting fishermen from the Lower 48, hiring employees, repairing equipment, constructing new buildings, and making lifelong friends year after year. But, September thru April found them living the dream – hunting, trapping, traveling to Belize on annual flyfishing vacations, and watching their evening TV hooked up to a 12-volt battery hoping it wouldn’t run out of juice before a football game had ended. Middle-age aches and pains won out and found them heading back down the road in 2000 – ending up “home again” at a beautiful acreage just northwest of Indianola. Steve hosted many family and friends for turkey hunting “Iowa style,” as well as fishing and hunting upland game. Steve put his trapping skills to good use and started a successful mole-trapping business. After 12 or so years, old-age aches and pains forced him to retire completely. Many envied Steve and his life’s journey. He was so proud of his three boys and all their accomplishments. He always bragged they were good citizens and hard workers. His life was complete, and he had no regrets. Steve often said, “Whenever God comes for me, I’ll die a happy man.” Steve is survived by his wife of 44 years, Louise, and his chocolate lab, Rocky. He is also survived by his three sons: Todd (wife Debbie and their two children Molly and Amy) of South Euclid, Ohio; Travis (wife Sarah and their two children Patrick and Nadia) of Apache Junction, Arizona; Ted (wife Brenda and their two children Jesse and Aiden) of Anchorage, Alaska.
Also surviving are four brothers: Bob (wife Bonnie) of Kansas City, Missouri; Greg (wife Charlotte) of Adel, Iowa; Ray (wife Beverly) of Grayling, Michigan; and Michael (wife Bonnie) of Cottage Grove, Oregon. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patty, and brothers Matt and Joe. He has now been reunited with his beloved dogs over the last 40 years: Rusty, Darby, Rudy, and Willy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s memory to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]