Roger Christie JOHNSON

JOHNSON, CHRISTIE, BENSON, CLARK, HANSON, JOACHIM, MOTOC, JOACHIM-MOTOC

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/31/2011 at 12:21:26

August 12, 1925 -- May 27, 2011

BELMOND, IA - Roger Christie Johnson, age 85, a lifelong resident of Belmond, died unexpectedly, on Friday, May 27, 2011, in Belmond. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational, 116 W. Main St., Belmond. The Rev. Donna Buckman will be officiating. Burial, with full military honors provided by the Belmond Military Unit, will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today, Tuesday, May 31, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to the services at church on Wednesday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Roger's name may wish to consider the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational, the Belmond Historical Society, or the Talbot Belmond Public Library.

Roger Christie Johnson, son of Elmer Adolph and Goldie (Christie) Johnson, was born in rural Belmond on Aug. 12, 1925. Roger attended Belmond Community Schools and graduated in 1942. He then attended Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, and summer school at Iowa State University prior to being drafted into the military service in 1943. Roger served his country in the United States Army from 1943-1945. He spent a period of his tenure in New Guinea and also in Manila, Philippines. His duties were in the ship supplies area and Roger was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of technical sergeant. Upon returning to civilian life, Roger continued his education at The California Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 1949 with a degree in chemistry. He then returned to Belmond where he worked for his father in the custom corn shelling and trucking business.

Roger was united in marriage to Connie Benson on July 26, 1953, at the old United Methodist Church in Belmond. Their union was blessed with six children: Christie, Gregary, Jamie, Bradley, Wade and Eric. In 1956, Roger went to work for General Mills Corporation in Belmond and continued in this role when Central Soya purchased the company in 1964. He remained there until early 1983. In May of that year, Roger accepted a position with Eaton Corporation. He became certified as a Qualified Environmental Professional and continued in this position until retiring from the company on June 30, 2004, at age 78. Roger was always proud of his family heritage and the deep roots that many generations had in Belmond and the surrounding area. He was passionate about preserving and sharing the family history with his own family and the greater community. In recent times Roger had enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge of local history with the Belmond Historical Society and Museum.

Roger adored his wife Connie and cherished times spent with her, their children and families. He looked forward to the annual family reunions and playing games with the grandkids. In previous years the couple looked forward to times spent with friends at card clubs, and, in more recent times, Roger was always ready for a friendly, competitive afternoon spent around the cribbage or Scrabble board with his friends and family. He enjoyed spending some time in what had been titled Roger's Three Hour Garden raising produce and flowers. He was an avid reader and boasted his own personal library collection of more than 2,500 books. Roger enjoyed music throughout his life and was especially fond of classical and music from the era of the '30s and '40s. He was a long-time member of the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational where he had served in numerous roles including the Stewardship committee, usher and greeter. He also shared his knowledge and interest in education through his serving a term on the Belmond-Klemme Schools Board of Education.

Roger's legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of his wife and life partner of nearly 58 years, Connie Johnson, Belmond; his daughter, Christie (Matthew) Clark, Wausau, Wis., and their sons, Andrew, Nicholas, Harrison, and Arthur; son, Jamie Johnson, Forest City, and his daughters, Erin and Ashley; son, Bradley (Sharon) Johnson, Mountain Home, Ark., and their children, Anthony Johnson and Rebecca Hanson and her daughter, Adrienne Hanson; son, Wade Johnson and his fiancee, Dana Joachim-Motoc, Minneapolis, Minn,; brother, Eugene R. Johnson, Pueblo, Colo., and other extended family and friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Eric and Gregary; a sister, Lois; and sister-in-law, Minnie Johnson. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
May 31, 2011