JOHANNS, Richard J., 1937-2018

JOHANNS

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/14/2021 at 19:52:38

Grafton – Richard J. Johanns, 81, of Mason City, died Thursday (April 19, 2018) at Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa, Mason City, surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 am, Monday (April 23, 2018) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 410 North Broadway St., Manly, with the Rev. Neil Manternach, Celebrant.

Richard Johanns was born in Osage, on February 25, 1937 to Joe and Laura (Fluhrer) Johanns. He attended Rural School Union #8 for 4 years. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 1954. Richard had many fond memories of playing basketball while in high school. After graduation, he worked with his father farming for two years before enlisting in the United States Army. While in the service, he trained at Fort Chaffer, Fort Dix, and in the Old Guard 3rd Infantry in Washington D.C. One of his fondest memories at the Old Guard 3rd Infantry which is the Presidential Honor Guard, Richard had the privilege of being on duty when Queen Elizabeth placed a wreath on the Canadian War Memorial, near The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Richard married his loving wife, Barbara Koehler, his best friend, on July 5, 1958. To this union six children were born; Tom, Bob, Jimmy, Mike, Kathy, and Jodie. While farming, they milked cows, raised hogs, and fed cattle before switching to raising sheep. He lambed 300-500 head of ewes for 9 years.

He enjoyed going to South Dakota buying sheep. He bought wool and sold Doboy Feeds. He also sheared many sheep with his friends, AG Thompson and Monte Hawkins.

During his life, he always had riding horses for his family and a standard bred horse for driving. He greatly enjoyed providing sleigh rides to children and friends. Richard drove in many parades with his buggy, that he built, and others out of his collection. Driving or providing a horse and buggy ride for the neighborhood girls at their weddings gave him great pleasure. He was known for wearing his black suit and top hat, oftentimes being called Abe.

In his spare time, he made many Cedar chests and birdhouses for his wife, daughters, daughters in law, and granddaughters. He enjoyed fishing trips to Devil's Lake in North Dakota with his sons, grandsons, son in law, and several fishing buddies. Hosting, all you can eat, fish fries for friends and family brought him pleasure.

In 1987, he started two adventures. The first adventure was crop insurance adjusting which he continued to do after he got his agent's license to sell crop insurance. The second adventure was planting 1500 Arborvite tree seedlings for the BJ Tree farm. The trees were sold all over northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. He made friends during these two adventures.

Richard's final adventure was making wine. His family and friends thought it was pretty good, and he drank some every day.

Richard was known for his ability to visit, tell stories, and make jokes. He enjoyed going to grandkids' sporting events, which were football, basketball, volleyball, and ice skating. This started with his own kids; the boys participated in football and wrestling, and the girls participated in basketball and music. Richard enjoyed spending time with them at birthday parties, graduations, and weddings.

Those grateful in sharing in Richard's life are his wife, Barbara; children, Tom (Darcee), Bob (Jill), Kathy (Guy) Venz, and Jodie (Brian) Hansen; daughter in law, Shellie Johanns; grandchildren, Gabe, Wade, Shaye, Jordan, Stephen, Robert, Justin, Tyler, Jared, Chase, Mikayla, and Dylan; 8 great grandchildren; sister, Ardella Scalise; and extended relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sons, James and Michael; brother, Ernest Johanns; and brothers in law, Donald Koehler and Robert Scalise.