H. Eugene "Gene" Johnson

Funeral Services for H. Eugene Johnson will be conducted from the St. John's Lutheran Church in Wilcox, Nebraska on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Mel Mertens, officiating. Interment will be in the Wilcox Cemetery.

Hans Eugene Johnson, 75 years of age, of Wilcox, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2011 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege, Nebraska. Eugene was born October 3, 1935 on the family farm six miles north of Holdrege in Phelps County, Nebraska, the third of five children born to Clarence and Ruth (Jensen) Johnson. He received his education from Holdrege Public Schools and then engaged in his lifelong career of trucking, custom harvesting and farming. In 1974, Eugene established HEJCO, Inc. which he owned and operated until his passing.

On August 15, 1957 he was united in marriage to Lorraine Helen Harms in Sundance, Wyoming. To this union four children were born: Michael, Debbie, Lori and Kari. The family made their home at Sacramento, Nebraska until 1987 at which time they moved to a ranch near Johnstown, Nebraska. In 2003, Eugene and Lorraine returned to Central Nebraska and resided in Wilcox.

He loved playing the guitar, entertaining friends and family and telling jokes. Eugene loved to give nicknames to every family member and close friends. He was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Wilcox.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Albert and Minnie Harms; two brothers: Roger and LaVern Johnson; sister, Elaine Johnson; brother-in-law, Delbert Harms and niece, Denine Harms.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Lorraine of 54 years; one son, Michael Johnson of Wilcox; three daughters: Debbie Harms and her husband, Brent of Wilcox, Lori Tripe and her husband, Craig of Alma, Nebraska, Kari Kelley and her husband, Dave of Grand Junction, Colorado; 16 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; one brother, LaMont Johnson and his wife, Phyllis of Minden, Nebraska; three sisters-in-law: Berniece Clark and her husband, Lon of Holdrege, Dorothy Harms of North Platte, Nebraska and Dianne Albright and her husband, Dale of Kearney, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Lamoine Harms of Excelsior Springs, Missouri and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.