Paul V. Johnson

Paul Victor Johnson, 95, died on Monday, February 1, 2021 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Paul was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and person.

Paul was born September 20, 1925, the 8th out of 12 children, and the last surviving child of Casper and Lucy Johnson. Paul was born at home in Bazille Mills, Nebraska. Paul graduated from Creighton High School in Creighton, Nebraska at the age of 16. When he turned 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and served on Midway Island in the South Pacific. After being honorably discharged three years later, he attended Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). He graduated with a chemistry degree and started working for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He married Loretta Jean Husmann on March 23, 1951 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa and together they had three children. Paul worked for Firestone in the Des Moines plant until transferring to Firestone International. In 1968, Paul, Loretta, and their three children moved overseas. Paul and Loretta lived in five different countries and spent a total of 17 years living overseas. They lived in Valencia, Venezuela (1968-1970), Bangkok, Thailand (1970-1974), Montevideo, Uruguay (1974-1976), Kobe, Japan (1976-1981), and Port Elizabeth, South Africa (1981-1985). Each of their three children graduated from a different high school overseas. Paul loved to travel and took advantage of learning about the culture and language of the countries he lived in. He learned to speak Spanish, Thai, and Japanese. Paul also took advantage of seeing new sites and visiting different countries, while living overseas. Together he and Loretta visited over 33 countries and five continents. At the age of 60, Paul retired and moved back to Des Moines, Iowa where he could be close to his children. Although retired, Paul and Loretta continued to travel. Paul studied his family genealogy and traced his roots back to the family homestead in Fargerness, Norway. Paul and Loretta had the opportunity to visit Fargerness and become reacquainted with second cousins who still live there. Later, Paul, Loretta, their son, daughter, and grandsons had the opportunity to return to Thailand where Paul had the pleasure of introducing the culture and food to his grandsons. He was also able to show them the home they lived in and the school (International School of Bangkok) that their parents attended. It was a memorable trip for everyone. Paul and Loretta also visited Honolulu, Hawaii together with their daughter and grandson so they experienced Pearl Harbor and he was able to share his memories when he had been stationed there briefly in 1943. Paul and Loretta love Hawaii and quit counting the number of times they had been there after nine. Paul also had the opportunity to go on the Honor Flight in 2015.

As much as Paul loved to travel and experience new things, he loved his family more. His brothers and sisters were his best friends growing up and he continued to see them on a regular basis even after they all were married and had children of their own. In 1970 the Johnson clan began meeting every three years and continued until 2010 when Paul was the only remaining sibling left. These family reunions introduced two generations to one another. He loved attending dance recitals, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies of his grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Loretta; and his three children and their families: daughter, Barbara Johnson and her foster daughter Mary (Ricky) Breuss and Lucy, and son Brandon; daughter, Kate Johnson (John Colclough); son, Don (Elizabeth) Johnson and his daughter Ashley (Vaun) Dejong and Rowan and sons Brad (fiancé Jenna) and Corey. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and special friends Osamu and Mieko Hamaguchi and Thomas and Karin Wilson.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Helen, Verna, June, and Ferne, and brothers, Noble, Casper (infant), Kenneth, Olvin, Allen, Dale, and Gordon.

A private service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines with burial at Elmwood Cemetery in Minburn, Iowa with military honors.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print