LaVerne Johnson

1914-2008

Thursday, January 17, 2008

ALPHA - LaVerne Johnson, 93, Alpha, died Tuesday (Jan. 15, 2008) at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg. Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at Grace Lutheran Church, Opheim. Burial will be in Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Opheim. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Peterson Wallin Knox Funeral Home, Alpha, where memorials may be left to Grace Lutheran Church or Tri-County Ambulance. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.

He was born July 3, 1914, in rural North Henderson, a son of Otto Elmer and Hilma Martinson Johnson. They moved to Opheim in 1915 where he attended the local schools. On Sept. 7, 1940, he was united in marriage to Mildred E. Johnson in Andover.

LaVerne farmed in the Opheim area all of his life, retiring to Alpha in 1978 but remained an active farmer for many years. His memberships include Grace Lutheran Church, where he was active in many different capacities, Henry County Farm Bureau and he was a former director at the Opheim Grain Elevator.

He enjoyed traveling, being outdoors and was an avid Cubs fan.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred; a daughter, Barbara (James) Kepner of Alpha; a son, Mahlon (Rhea) Johnson of New Windsor; five grandchildren, Diane, Jennifer, Chad, Kathy and Corey; and seven great-grandchildren.

His parents; a grandson, Jason; an infant sister; and a brother, Walter, preceded him in death.