Delbert Johns

JOHNS JOHNSON THORNE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 17:49:03

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Delbert Johns
By Mrs Eva-Joy Johns

Delbert Johns, son of George and Rose (Johnson) Johns was born in Wynot, Nebraska, June 12, 1927, and moved to Dakota County when nine years old. The family moved to a farm and west of Jackson in 1937 for one year, then from 1938 to 1943 lived near Ponca. He attended Rush School, District #27, graduating from the 8th grade in 1942.

The family moved to a farm about ten miles north of Sioux City along Highway 75 at James, in Plymouth County, Iowa. Delbert farmed with his dad and worked one winter for Blue Bunny in LeMars.

The Johns family came to this area, Dakota County, Nebraska, as early as 1862 when Delbert’s great grandfather, Henry and his brother, John, came to Blyburg, Nebraska where another brother, Andrew, had come before them in 1856. They were the sons of John and Drusilla (Isgrig) Johns of Ohio. Henry married Eliza Jane Bailey in Lincoln, Illinois, August 26, 1866. John Thomas Johns, first child of Henry and Eliza was born July 20, 1868, and married Rose Riibe, November 27, 1893 in Hartington, Nebraska. To this marriage were born five children: Lucy, Emil, Pear, George (Delbert’s father), and Rosie. George Thomas was born at Wynot, Nebraska, and married Rose Hansine Johnson in Sioux City, Iowa, September 24, 1925. Rose was the daughter of Ramona Jorgen and Johanne (Robertson) Johnson, both born in Denmark. To George and Rose were born three children: Delbert, Wauneta May and Barbara Jean.

Delbert married Eva-Joy Alfreda Thorne in Marysville, Kansas, May 4, 1947. To this marriage three children were born, all in Sioux City: Dennis Duane, born July 3, 1948; Sharon Louise, born October 3, 1960; and Linda Diane, born August 9, 1962.

Eva-Joy, daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Eriksen) Thorne, was born August 26, 1929 at Homer, Nebraska, attending Jensen School District #43 and graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1947. She was active in 4-H, especially livestock, and won Grand Champion Angus at Nebraska State Fair in 1945. Thorne history is written in Dakota County Nebraska History book 1982.

Delbert and Eva-Joy lived on a farm in Correctionville, Iowa for four years, then three years north of Hinton, before moving to the Thorne farm northwest of Hinton for hour years, 1955 to 1959. Delbert worked at Swift Packing for twelve years, 1956 to 1968, along with farming. They purchased a farm southeast of Hinton, Iowa, in the fall of 1958, and have lived there ever since. Eva-Joy worked at Knapp & Spencer Company in Sioux City from 1968 to 1979.

Dennis married Lynnette Ann Carrington, born August 11, 1948, daughter of William and Helen (Schultz) Carrington, on October 6, 1968, in Peterson, Iowa. To this marriage two children were born, both in Storm Lake, Iowa: Todd Michael and Tracy Michelle. They were divorced in 1975. On March 19, 1976, in Decatur, Nebraska, he married Roxann Harriet Swanson, daughter of Harold Swanson, Jr, and Jacqueline (Sparks) Swanson Willer. They have two children, Heather Joy and Jacque Geneva.

Sharon married Daryl Dean Heimgartner, son of Ruben and Florence (Reinholdt) Heimgartner, on December 14, 1968, in Sioux City. They have three children, Randall Dean, Travis Scott, and David John.

Linda married Robert John Greene, son of Harold and Anna (Schoenfelder) Greene, November 15, 1974, in Sioux City. They have three children, Jason Matthew, Chad Alfred, and Shannon Elizabeth.

The Johns, Heimgartner and Greene families are all members of the St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City.