Johnson, Duane E. "Dick" (1930-2010)

JOHNSON, TAYLOR, NEHRING, HOLSTAD, OLSON, CARSON, WATNEY, PETERSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 12/27/2010 at 20:29:14

Duane E. "Dick" Johnson
April 17, 1930 - December 17, 2010

Duane E. "Dick" Johnson, age 80, of Thompson, died Friday, December 17, 2010, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Duane Johnson was born on April 17, 1930. He graduated from Forest City High School in 1947. On September 7, 1951, he married Barbara Ruth Taylor in Forest City after which they made their home in Thompson.

His "temporary job" evolved into nearly 47 years of employment at Winnebago REC where he was a lineman, foreman and line superintendent. Dick was an avid gardener who shared his bountiful produce with all. He was a great story teller with a droll sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially the Sunday night popcorn/game nights. He will be remembered as a kind, generous person who was always willing to help anyone. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, the North Iowa Heritage Park and was a former member of the Thompson Saddle Club as well as a charter member of the Thompson Lions Club.

Dick is survived by Barbara, his wife of 59 years; his children, Nancy (Irvin) Nehring, of Byron, Minnesota, Ellen (Michael) Holstad, of Thompson and Holly Johnson, and friend, Damon Followill, of Des Moines; his grandchildren, Mark (Karen) Nehring, Timothy Nehring, Cassondra Holstad, Mikaella Holstad, Ardianna Johnson, Cheye Johnson and Anthony Johnson; his great grandchildren Faith, Brian and Elizabeth Nehring; and his siblings, Dennis (Amelia) Olson, of Clayton, California, and Anne Olson, of Castro Valley, California, the cousins he grew up with, John (Nita) Carson, of Brodhead, Wisconsin, Carroll "Buv" (Janelle) Carson, Jr., of Forest City, Iowa, and Jamie (Mary) Carson, of Madison, Wisconsin; his bothers-in-law, Charles (Eileen) Taylor, of Ventura, Iowa, and Denny (Julie) Taylor, of Forest City, Iowa; his sister-in-law, Sandra Taylor, of St. Paul, Minnesota; and special family friend, Jim Moon, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn; his mother and step father, Olga and Walter Olson, his grandparents, Ed and Helen Johnson, his aunts, Esther (Carroll) Carson, Ann (Earl) Watney, Julia (Ray) Peterson, and his father and mother-in-law Carroll and Helga Taylor.

Memorial donations will be directed by the family to support the Thompson Lions Club, Bethany Lutheran Church, the Thompson Library Building Fund, and to establish a community garden in his memory.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, December 20, 2010, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Inurnment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2010, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City, and an hour prior to the service at the church.

Copyright © 2010, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

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