John Clarence Johnson

John C. “Jack” Johnson, age 83 of Cushing, Iowa passed away on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society Center in Holstein, surrounded by family. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 10:30 AM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home in Holstein.  Burial will be at the Cushing Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Masonic service at 7:00 PM.

John was born in his family’s farmhouse four miles west of Cushing on March 24, 1940, to L. D. (Bud) and Leona Wink Johnson.  In 1944, John’s dad purchased, and moved to the Chicago Ranch two and one-half miles south of Cushing.  His school years began in Cushing Consolidated School in 1945.  In 1947, John’s dad built a house in Correctionville where they lived, and John attended the Correctionville school until 1951 when they moved to another farm two and half miles South of Cushing.

John joined the Battle Badgers 4-H Club in 1951.  He showed cattle and hogs at the Ida County Fair, he also showed hogs at the Iowa State Fair, and cattle at Ak-Sar-Ben and Inter-State in Sioux City, Iowa.  John was elected president of the Ida County 4-H in 1958.

In the spring of 1957, John attended Hawkeye Boys State for the Cushing American Legion.

John graduated from Cushing Consolidated School in 1958 and joined his father and brother in farming.

On New Year’s Eve in 1958, John met the love of his life, Dolores Steen, at a midnight show in Holstein, Iowa.  They started dating in April of 1959 and then on February 14, 1960, they were married in the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Holstein, Iowa. The couple was blessed with four children, Johnnie, Jimmie, Julie, and Jeffrey.  He spent 63 years of his married life farming, attending sales, checking cows, county fairs, dancing, playing cards (500 and euchre) and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Everything he did, he did with Dolores.  If he showed up somewhere without her, he would be asked, where is Dolores?  If you spent time with John, you always knew he would have a joke or two to tell.

He was involved in the community and church.  He served as a leader of the Battle Badgers 4H club, a 50-year member of the Masonary Order, a member of the Ida County Extension, a member of the Ida County Beef Producers, a member of the Ida County Sheep Producers and was the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Cushing, Iowa.

John is survived by his wife, Dolores of Cushing, Iowa; his children Johnnie (Linda) of Cushing, Iowa, Jimmie of Cushing, Iowa; Julie (Barry) Enockson of Sioux City, Iowa; and Jeffrey (Lisa) of Cushing, Iowa.  Grand Children Ashley (Dustin) Schlenger of Cushing, Iowa; Tonya (Jared) Frafjord of Moville, Iowa; Erin Johnson of Ankeny, Iowa and Eric Johnson of Cushing, Iowa.  Great-Grandchildren Ember, Ayden, Tinley and Leytin Schlenger of Cushing, Iowa and Rowynn, Jagger, Raelynn and Blakely Frafjord of Moville, Iowa.  Sister Miriam (LeRoy) Jensen of Clarion, Iowa and Sisters-In-Law Shirlene Johnson of Cushing, Iowa, Janice Lundsgaard of Cherokee, Iowa, Donna Steen of Spokane, Washington, Connie Steen of Mountain View, Arkansas, Cathy (Paul) Gnade, Mountain View, Arkansas, and Vickie Steen, Mountain View, Arkansas and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Daryl and Larry, Father-In-law and Mother-in-law Lawrence and Edna Steen, Brother-in-law Joe Lundsgaard and nephew Dan Johnson.