Passed Away - Paul Edwin Johnson

Paul Edwin Johnson

February 28, 1947  -  November 26, 2009

Sac City, Iowa

Paul Edwin Johnson, age 62, of Sac City, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2009, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, due to complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Born February 28, 1947, in Sac City, Iowa, Paul Edwin Johnson was the son of Gordon and Marjorie (Venzke) Johnson. He grew up on a farm and went to country school through the eighth grade. He then attended Sac City High School, graduating with the Class of 1965.

Paul worked for neighboring farmers during his high school years. After high school he worked for Noble Manufacturing before being drafted into the United States Army in August of 1966. Most of Paul's tour of duty was spent in Germany. He was honorably discharged from active duty in July, 1968. Paul was a member of the active reserves in Sac City for ten years earning the rank of Staff Sergeant E6.

On September 5, 1970, he married Dianna Jessen at the United Methodist Church in Early, Iowa. The couple settled in Sac City where they raised three daughters, Stephanie, Kimberly, and Amy. Paul was employed by Schaller Fertilizer, Early Co-op Elevator, and Schroeder Elevator. On March 1, 1973, he went to work as an equipment operator for the Department of Transportation, retiring in 2008. Paul also helped his mother farm after his father passed away in 1969.

Paul was a faithful member of Faith Bible Church in Sac City, where he served as deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, and Awana leader. He also served on the AFSCME Local 2999 as president, was steward of the Sac City Garage, was a member of the Sac County Democrats, and was active with Partners in Progress for the Senior Citizen Center.

Survivors include his wife, Dianna; three daughters, Stephanie (Chad) McFarland of Clarksville, MO, Kimberly (Brian) Herbst of Cedar Falls, and Amy (James) Lofflin of Des Moines; and two grandchildren, Killian McFarland and James Paul Lofflin. He is also survived by his mother, Marjorie Johnson of Sac City; two brothers, Randy (Linda) Johnson of Sac City, and Kevin (Julie) Johnson of Holstein; two sisters, Kathy (Alan) Ortner of Auburn, and Dorthy (Ben) Hoffard of Sac City; his mother-in-law, Beulah Jessen of Wall Lake; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his father; paternal grandparents, Richard and Esther Johnson; maternal grandparents, Clemence and Ida Venzke; and his father-in-law, LaVern Jessen.