Johnson, Wilbur Lewis ("W. L.") (1931 - 2025)

JOHNSON, SMITH, MILLER, HUTTON, HAGEN, POTTS, BINTNER, GREVING, MILES, HENNEN, ALLMEN, LY, THOBURN, BURTON, REINWALD, RINEHART, MCCLAIN, GRIGGS, MCELROY, ALEXANDER, POLLACK, INKEN, CANNON, HAMPTON, TURNER

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 7/19/2025 at 15:23:44

Name of deceased: Wilbur Lewis (“W.L.”) Johnson

Aged: 94 yrs, 1 mo, 30 days

Residence: Elk Horn, Shelby County, IA

Born: April 15, 1931; at home, rural Cainsville, Harrison County, MO

Died: June 14, 2025; Cass County Memorial Hospital, Atlantic, Cass County, IA

Funeral services: Celebration of Life: Saturday, July 12, 2025; Roland Funeral Home, Atlantic, IA; Military honors provided by the U. S. Marine Corps, Atlantic Color Guard

Survived by: Children, Jan (spouse, David) Smith of Baton Rouge, LA, Sheila Johnson of Lorah, IA, Reverend Mike (spouse, Carolyn) Miller of Chicago, IL, and Paula (spouse, Rod) Hutton of Eagleville, MO; daughter-in-law, Ronda Hagan of Blythedale, MO; grandchildren, (76 in total down to the great-great’s!), Chris Smith, Nate (spouse, Carri) Potts, Elijah (spouse, Paige) Bintner, Hannah (spouse, Keith) Greving, Libbie (spouse, Tyler) Miles, Maddie Bintner, Abi Bintner, Gabbie (spouse, Chase) Hennen, Rachel (spouse, Alan) Allmen, Sarah (spouse, Dave) Ly, Rebecca (spouse, Tom) Thoburn, Stephen (spouse, Lulu) Miller, Jack Hutton, Bobby Hutton, Lacey (spouse, Daniell) Burton, Latosha (spouse, John) Reinwald, Aaron (spouse, Megan) Hagan, Nick Hagan, Trisha (spouse, Coy) Rinehart, and Sydney (spouse, Kenton) Smith; many great- and great-great grandchildren; brother, Don Johnson of Nashville, TN; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Frank Wayne and Bonnie Pearl (nee McClain) Johnson; wives, Sybil (nee Griggs) Johnson in 2008, Nancy (nee McElroy) Johnson in 2007, and Betty (Alexander) Hagan Johnson in 2017; daughters, Leisha Smith and Mary Elizabeth Pollack; sons, John Hagan and David Alexander Hagan; granddaughters, Leah Miller and Jennifer Smith; grandsons, Aaron Inken, Micheal Smith, and John Cannon; sister, Kate (and spouse, Newt) Hampton; brother, Frank Johnson; half-brother, Duane Johnson; and half-sister, Thelma Turner; other family members and friends

Education: Graduated from Cainsville (IA) High School at age of 16, Class of 1947

Religious affiliation: Attended the Elk Horn (IA) Baptist Church

Military service: Enlisted in 1948 into the U. S. Marine Corps (USMC), serving from June 1948 to June 1968, and attaining the rank of 1st Sergeant at his honorable discharge. John was stationed in Paris Island, Korea, Okinawa, San Diego, Fort Worth and Abilene, TX. He served 2 combat deployments aboard aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge during the Korean War in 1950 and 1951. During his time in the Marines, he served in different roles which included sharpshooter instructor, drill instructor, and preparing 43 platoons for being called into action during Vietnam.

Marriages: (1) Sybil Griggs; date and location not provided (2) Nancy McElroy; date and location not provided; (3) Betty (nee Alexander) Hagan; date and location not provided

Employment: After his career in the military, he returned to farm for a short time before coming to southwest Iowa to help his brother Frank with his restaurant business as a cook. John later owned the Brayton Café with his wife, Nancy, and worked as a cook for a number of years at the Danish Inn.

Hobbies/Interests: His love of horses started in his youth, and he shared this love with his family; he also broke them and sold them. John planted and harvested a huge garden each year and loved to cook, with family favorites ranging from his buttermilk pies to his smoked brisket. He was an avid reader, with Westerns being his go to and appreciated his book delivery from the Elk Horn Public Library. Throughout his life he looked forward to traveling to various places with his little camper. John was very independent, mowing his lawn until the age of 92 and had an easy-going, southern charm demeanor.

Sources: kjan.com; rolandfuneralservice.com