Duane E. "Dick" Johnson

THOMPSON - Duane E. "Dick" Johnson, age 80 of Thompson, died Friday, December 17, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, December 20, 2010 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Inurnment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark St in Forest City and an hour prior to service at the church.
Duane E. Johnson was born on April 17, 1930. He graduated from Forest City High School in 1947. On September 7, 1951, he married Barbara Ruth Taylor in Forest City after which they made their home in Thompson.
His "temporary job" evolved into nearly 47 years of employment at Winnebago REC where he was a lineman, foreman and line superintendent. Dick was an avid gardener who shared his bountiful produce with all. He was a great story teller with a droll sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially the Sunday night popcorn/game nights. He will be remembered as a kind, generous person who was always willing to help anyone. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, North Iowa Heritage Park and was a previous member of the Thompson Saddle Club as well as a charter member of the Thompson Lions Club.
Dick is survived by Barbara, his wife of 59 years; his children, Nancy (Irvin) Nehring of Byron, MN, Ellen (Michael) Holstad of Thompson and Holly Johnson and friend Damon Followill of Des Moines; grandchildren, Mark (Karen) Nehring, Timothy Nehring, Cassondra Holstad, Mikaella Holstad, Ardianna Johnson, Cheye Johnson and Anthony Johnson; great grandchildren Faith, Brian and Elizabeth Nehring; and sibling, Dennis (Amelia) Olson of Clayton, CA, Anne Olson of Castro Valley, CA, and the cousins he grew up with, John (Nita) Carson of Brodhead, WI, Carroll (Buv) Carson, Jr. (Janelle) of Forest City, IA, Jamie (Mary) Carson of Madison, WI; bothers-in-law Charles (Eileen) Taylor of Ventura, IA, Denny (Julie) Taylor of Forest City, IA, sister-in-law Sandra Taylor of St. Paul, MN; special family friend Jim Moon, and numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends . He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn; his mother and step father, Olga and Walter Olson, grandparents Ed and Helen Johnson, aunts Esther (Carroll) Carson, Ann (Earl) Watney, Julia (Ray) Peterson, and his father and mother-in-law Carroll and Helga Taylor. Memorial donations will be directed by the family to support the Thompson Lions Club, Bethany Lutheran Church, the Thompson Library Building Fund, and to establish a community garden in his memory.