Henry O. JOHNSON

JOHNSON, HALVORSON, QUIGLEY, OBERHAUSER, MCCONVILLE, EELS, STEGMAN, BOCKMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/30/2006 at 00:56:16

April 27, 2005
©Belmond Independent 2005

Henry O. "Hank" Johnson, 94, of Belmond, died on Friday, April 22, 2005, at the Belmond Health Care Center. Funeral services were held on Monday, April 25, at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with Father David Beckman and Deacon Nick Schmit presiding. Interment was in the church cemetery near Belmond. Organist was Maxine Whitty. Soloists were Todd McConville and Dominique Eells Bockman. Ushers were Mike McLaughlin and Hubert Kopriva. Honorary casket bearers were Gerald McNulty, Frank Quigley, Doug Thompsen, Jim Swenson, Edgar Janson, Rick Hawley, Jim Gealow, Brian Johnson, Allen Stegman, Lew Eells and Mike McConville. Casket bearers were Hank's grandchildren.

Henry, the son of Samuel and Mary Halvorson Johnson, was born on November 18, 1910 in Belmond. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Belmond. In high school, Hank served as president of his senior class, captain of the football team for two years, and captain of the basketball team for one year. Hank was the captain of the first North Iowa All Conference Football Team in 1929. His decision to take care of his mother prevented him from accepting a football scholarship to Upper Iowa University. After high school he worked in the sugar beet fields and at Tomco Seeds in Belmond. He also managed the state liquor store before entering the service. Henry married Gertrude Marie Quigley on December 8, 1937 in Belmond, where they made their home. On April 12, 1944 Henry entered the U.S. Army as an artillery gun crewman. He served in the European Theater during World War II and was a member of the 76th Infantry, which came to the support of Patton's 3rd Army. He returned home in October 1945. Henry began working for McGuire Clothing in Belmond, which was later purchased by Dutch Thompsen. For thirty-two years Hank worked there, managing the store in his later years. He retired in 1978. A lover of the outdoors, Henry spent a lot of time hunting and fishing. He also liked gardening and reading. Sports were very important to Hank, especially the Hawkeyes. Hank's children remember him only loving his family more than being outdoors.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brothers and sisters, William, Helen, Olga, Sofie, Magdalene, Theodore, Paul and Leonard. Henry is survived by his daughters, Maryellen Oberhauser of Belmond, Jean (Michael) McConville of Des Moines and Bette (Lew) Eells of Cedar Rapids; sons, Sam (Vicki) Johnson of Badger, Ray Johnson and fiancée, Teresa and her daughter, Katie of Belmond and Len (Jan) Johnson of Bucyrus, Kansas; 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, Greg and Kim Oberhauser and their son, Garrett; Gretchen and Allen Stegman, Todd, Susan, Michelle, Jeff and Doug McConville; Spencer and Kris Eells and their children, Carson, Jenna and Jackson; Craig and Kelly Eells and their son, Parker; Dominique and Mike Bockman and their children, Nicholas and Patrick; Ned and Jessica Johnson and their children, Jordan and Cooper; Erin Johnson and Alex Johnson.