Eugene R. JOHNSON

JOHNSON, CHRISTIE, BLUNDON, MYERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/27/2016 at 18:21:54

January 18, 1923 --- January 3, 2016

Eugene R. Johnson, Colorado City, CO, died January 3, 2016. Eugene was born in Belmond on January 18, 1923 to Elmer Adolph and Goldie (Christie) Johnson. He graduated from Belmond High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving during WWII. In 1946 he enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he met the love of his life, Minnie (Blundon) Myers. They courted for two years and were married in 1948. Gene graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1951.

Gene spent virtually all of his professional career working in the steel industry, starting with Bethlehem Steel, then with machinery manufacturer Allis-Chalmers, and in 1969 with CF&I Steel in Colorado. He began his career using a slide rule, and ended it using computer aided design.

Gene’s love of music would extend his entire life, from Army days where he played in dance bands, the University of Nebraska where he played clarinet in the marching band (and the alumni band years later), on a beer wagon in Milwaukee parades, the University and Southern Colorado Community Band, and the Pueblo (CO) Municipal Band for over 40 years. He played well into his 80’s.

Gene was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7305 and the Colorado City-Rye Lions Club. He earned recognition as the VFW Colorado All State Quartermaster in 1998-99. Gene was also an avid bridge player and loved to play golf.

He was preceded in death by his wife; brother Roger; and sister Lois. Gene is survived by his stepson Don Myers; grandsons Brian and Jeff Myers; and nephew Ed (Francis) Blundon.

January 26, 2016
Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa

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On January 3, 2016, Eugene R. Johnson, a longtime resident of Colorado City, CO, joined his beloved wife of 58 years, Minnie; his parents, Elmer Adolph and Goldie (Christie) Johnson; his brother Roger and his sister Lois in the life ever after. Gene, as he was known to his family and friends, was born in Belmond, Iowa, in 1923. Gene was a man of great intelligence and character. He was an articulate conversationalist with a pure and kind heart who left this world a much better place for having been in it.

Gene enlisted in the Army in 1941 immediately after graduating from high school in Belmond and served for the duration of the War. Although most of his service was in the United States, he was also stationed in France and Germany. In 1946, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska (UN) in Lincoln, Nebraska,. It was at a UN dance that he met the love of his life, Minnie (Blundon) Myers. They courted for two years and were married in 1948, while Gene was still attending the UN. Gene graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951.

Gene spent virtually all of his professional career working in the steel industry, starting with Bethlehem Steel, moving on to heavy machinery manufacturer, Allis-Chalmer, and in 1969, he came to Colorado, where he settled in at CF&I Steel for 22 years and achieved the level of Assistant Chief Electrical Engineer. A Life Member of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, his career spanned the days from slide rules to calculators, and from drawing board to Computer Aided Design software, and he used every tool effectively to solve many problems.

Gene's life was not strictly in his work. His love of music would extend his entire life, from Army days where he played in dance bands, and on to the University of Nebraska, where he took great pride in playing his clarinet and marching in the UN marching band, and especially in the Alumni Band for years later. Everywhere he lived he played, later regaling audiences with his stories, including about riding on a beer wagon in Milwaukee parades, drinking beer in between songs. He played in the Pueblo, CO, Municipal Band for over 40 years, even serving as Treasurer, and other concert bands, including the University and Southern Colorado Community Band, and he reveled in classical music as well. He played regularly well into his mid 80s and never lost his love of listening to live performances.

While in Colorado City, he gave back to the City through his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cuerno-Verde Post 7305 and the Colorado City-Rye Lions Club. He earned recognition as the VFW 1998-1999 Colorado All State Quartermaster. Gene was also an avid bridge player, earning 136.63 masters points. He also loved to play golf when he was not involved in all of his other endeavors. And he dearly loved his Siamese cat, Sam.

Gene is survived by his surviving stepson, Don Myers, his grandsons, Brian and Jeff Myers, nephew Ed (Francis) Blundon, and a host of cousins, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Throughout his life, Gene kept meticulous track of all his family, always wanting to know what and how they were doing. Gene touched and enriched the lives of many. He will be forever missed by all who had the pleasure and honor to have known him.

Donations in his honor would be most welcome and can be made to any or all of the following organizations:
Pueblo Municipal Band, P.O. Box 9205, Pueblo, CO, 81008,
Colorado City - Rye Lions Club, P.O. Box 19042, Colorado City, CO 81019
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Cuerno-Verde Post 7305, P.O. Box 19788, 5445 Cuerno Verde Blvd, Colorado City, CO 81019

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