Robert Johnson

Robert (Bob) Johnson, 85 passed away after a long battle with cancer on October 14th, 2025.

He was born to Sarah (Hightower) and Ernie Wilson in New Sharon, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Jennifer Colburn on July 17th, 1966.

Bob graduated from Tech High School where he started what would become a lifelong passion in communications. It was at Tech that he began his work with KDPK radio station which led to his love of broadcasting. He continued broadcasting at KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and also at WHO TV in Des Moines. He also did broadcasting while living in Yuma, Arizona. He loved radios and got his ham radio license when he was 12 or 13, his call sign was W0SMS. Bob went on to volunteer with the Des Moines Radio Amateur Association (DMRAA), one of the oldest ARRL affiliated radio clubs in the Midwest, and was on the board of directors. He was a volunteer examiner (VE) for the Amateur Radio Relay League so new generations of ham radio operators could get their FCC licensure. Anything that had to do with radios Bob was there. One accomplishment he was proud of was his work at Collins radio where he worked in communications on the Apollo mission and helped make the camera that took the picture of the first man on the Moon. That is where he met his wife Jenny.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children; Jon Johnson, Debby Patterson and Sarah Valentine; eight grandchildren, Nick, Luke, Katie, Rochelle, Jacqueline, William, Mark and Louis; three great-grandchildren, Jaydee, Jon and Stella Blu; cousin, MariJo Starnes; and many very good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah and Ernie Wilson; uncle, Joe; uncle, Jack; brother, Rick; and grandson, Douglas Lee Brower III.

Memorial service will be held Friday, November 21, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. A graveside service with military honors will be held immediately after at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, 34026 Veterans Memorial Drive in Adel, Iowa.

Memorial contributions can be made to the family in loving memory of Robert Johnson.

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