Rodney R Johnson

Funeral Services for Rodney R. Johnson will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Rodney R. Johnson, 86 years of age, of Lincoln, Nebraska (formerly of Holdrege) passed away in Lincoln, Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Lincoln. Rod was born in Holdrege on August 21, 1921, the son of Dr. Roy P. Johnson and Mildred (Gamble) Johnson and brother to Keith Johnson. He graduated from Holdrege High School in 1938 and attended Kearney State Teacher's College before entering federal service with Holdrege's Company A of the 110th Quartermaster Regiment, 35th Division, when the Nebraska National Guard was mobilized October 19, 1940.

After a year of training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas, he was stationed on the California coast following Pearl Harbor. He attended Officer's Candidate School in 1943 and was First Lieutenant assigned to the 40th Amphibious Engineers Company stationed in England until the invasion of France D Day. He commanded a "dukw" platoon. After V.E. Day, he was on a ship headed for Japan when the news came of V.J. Day.

Upon returning home, he resumed his studies at the University of Nebraska and in 1947 married Patricia Jordan of Holdrege. They had two sons Frank Edward and Kim Rod.

He married Phyllis (Kraus) Winquest in 1965 and became father to her three daughters Julie, Joyce, and Mary Jane. They made their home in Holdrege until 1993 when they moved to Lincoln.

Rod was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as deacon, elder, and choir member. He helped establish the Holdrege Tennis Association, and was a member of Holdrege Masonic Lodge, Tehama Shrine Temple, and American Legion Club. He was an athlete and sports fan, having played football for Kearney College and the University of Nebraska. He played tennis and swam regularly up to a few years ago. He loved traveling with his family.

His career as a manufacturer's representative in the Liquid Petroleum industry spanned 45 years.

Survivors include his wife Phyllis; sons Ed Johnson and wife Linda of Omaha, Kim Johnson of Portland, Oregon; daughters Julie Sand and husband Roger of Lincoln, Joyce Olsen and husband Clark of Bellevue, Washington, and Mary Jane Winquest of Lakewood, Colorado, nine grandchildren Erinn Thompson, Matt Johnson, Jeremy Sand, Heather Spivey, Heidi Sand, Lindsey Sand, Troy Olsen, Chad Olsen, Jeffrey Olsen, as well as ten great grandchildren and niece Lynn Sundquist and nephews Scott Johnson and Dave Johnson. He was a beloved father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Keith Johnson and his wife J.B.

The family will be greeting friends prior to the funeral service during the visitation on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. until Noon 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.