Gerald L. JOHNSON

JOHNSON, LARSON, SURBY, DAVIS, LADEBURG, MERCER, MEYER, PLUGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/23/2010 at 10:03:02

CRESCO, IOWA - Gerald L. Johnson, 86, of Cresco, died June 15, 2010 at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wis. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 19, at the United Methodist Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Michael Carey officiating. The organist was Melodee Balk with special music by Gerald Johnson II, and a duet by Karen Lefebvre and Jacklyn Meyer. The Casket bearers were his grandchildren and military rites were performed by the American Legion Post 135 and VFW Post 4561 with SSgt Kyle Berens as the bugler.

Gerald L. Johnson was born Oct. 9, 1923 at Hardy, Iowa the son of Luther and Adelia (Larson) Johnson. He attended Luverne School and graduated from Luverne High School in 1942. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Surby on Feb. 21, 1943, at the First Methodist Church in Sumner. To this union were born six children. Gerald joined the U.S. Army in April 11, 1943. He was a WWII veteran, was stationed in Brazil. He graduated from college with a degree in music, business and accounting. He was a chief general accountant for the Chicago Great Western Railroad in Oelwein. They moved to Cresco in 1976 and opened up his own accounting practice. He joined the United Methodist Church in Cresco in 1986. Gerald loved his music, he started playing the pipe organ professionally when he was 12 years old and played for the churches in Oelwein, Sumner, Cresco, Iowa and Mercedes, Texas. His hobbies included camping, golfing, and he enjoyed his television. He retired in 1989 and wintered in Texas until a few years ago.

Gerald is survived by his wife Phyllis; his children, Cheryl (David) Davis, Judith (Rex) Ladeburg, Gerald (Cindy) Johnson II, Lynn (Tony) Mercer, Joy (John) Meyer, Jim (Marla) Johnson; 15 grandchildren, David, Chris, Terry, Tim, Cyndie, Scott, Zack, Zoe, Adam, Travis, Katie, Miles, Jacklyn, Michael and Derek; and 14 great grandchildren; two brothers, Mervin (Bobbi) Johnson and Myron (June) Johnson; one sister Joyce; a brother in-law Robert Surby and many nieces and nephews. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother Luther Johnson, Jr.; a brother in-law Aaron Pluger; a sister in-law Marcella Surby; and a nephew Bobby Surby.

Oelwein Daily Register - Iowa
June 21, 2010