Kermit Roy Johnson

Funeral Services for Kermit R. Johnson will be conducted from the Moses Hill Evangelical Covenant Church in Phelps County, Nebraska on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Craig Roberts, officiating. Interment will be in the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County.

Kermit Roy Johnson, 87 years of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. He was born at home on March 3, 1923 in Section 22 of the Laird Township, the fourth of seven children born to Roy and Hanna (Hadeen) Johnson. Kermit attended Moses Hill School District #14 and was confirmed at Moses Hill Church in 1937.

The 1930's developed in Kermit the precision shooting skills of hunting rabbits for food with his brother, Delwin and friend (and future brother-in-law), Warren Jacobson. Farming was chosen as an occupation whether as a youth or an adult. Kermit farmed alongside his mother after his father's death while his brother, Delwin, served under General Patton during World War II.

Reverend Bussertt united Kermit in marriage to Elaine Anna Schubert of Wilcox, Nebraska on May 2, 1945 in Holdrege, Nebraska at the Lutheran parsonage. To this union four children were born: Joan Kay, Gene Larry, Merle Elton, and Janell Sue. Kermit was member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. They made their home on the Clara and Hattie Dane homestead west of Moses Hill, later moving to Glenn and Lillie Johnson's place east of Loomis in the mid 1950's. They continued their farming practices one-half mile from his birthplace in the Laird Township. In July of 2004, Kermit began to make his home at Holdrege Memorial Homes where he resided until his passing.

Kermit served on the Board of Directors of the Loomis Co-op Oil Company and on the ASCS Board. He also served on the Bunker Hill Telephone Company and as Secretary/Treasurer for the Bethel Lutheran Church Council. Kermit sold Northrup King Seed for a number of years with his territory covering as far west as Colorado and down into Kansas. He enjoyed his cattle and attended many regional sale barns. Kermit was also a charter member of the Loomis Coffee Club.

Besides his parents, Kermit was preceded in death by two sisters: Norma Ryden and Sadie Kimberling; one brother, Delwin Johnson; and one grandson, Michael Sheen.

Kermit leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Elaine, residing at Holdrege Memorial Homes; four children: Joan Sheen and her husband, Steve of Kearney, Nebraska, Gene Johnson and his wife, Marjorie of Douglasville, Georgia, Merle Johnson and his wife, Debra, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Janell Rossen and her husband, Larry of Gothenburg, Nebraska; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters: Merna Smith of Bertrand, Nebraska, Bonnie Samuelson and husband, Elsworth of Holdrege, Betty Jacobson and her husband, Warren of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

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.