Memorials › Donald Ivan Johnson
Donald Ivan Johnson
18 Apr 1923 – 28 Jun 2011
| Birth | 18 Apr 1923 |
| Death | 28 Jun 2011 |
| Cemetery | Prospect Hill Cemetery Norfolk , Madison County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Richard on 18 Apr 2016 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72423825 |
Bio
Funeral services for Donald Johnson, age 88 of Norfolk, will be held Sunday, July 3, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Christian Church in Norfolk. Pastor Tim Defor will officiate with burial in the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Military rites will be provided by VFW Post 1644, American Legion Post 16, and Offutt Air Force Honor Guard. Visitation will be Saturday from 4 to 8 P.M. at Brockhaus-Howser-Fillmer Funeral Home in Norfolk. Don died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at his residence. Donald Ivan Johnson was born April 18, 1923 at Greeley, Nebraska, to Ivan and Lila (Welch) Johnson. He was raised in the Scotia-Greeley area. He graduated from Scotia High School in 1941. He attended Aircraft Mechanic classes at Omaha University from 1941-1942. He was drafted into the Armed Forces in 1945. He served as a flight engineer and was stationed in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to Nebraska and farmed for a short time. He obtained his private pilot's license in 1946 and later attended Lincoln Aviation Institute and graduated in 1947. He was a certified air mechanic and flight instructor for most of his life. In 1949 he married Elizabeth Spilinek in Lincoln, Nebraska. They moved to Wayne in 1951 to manage the Wayne Airport. He was the manager there until 1975. He worked at the Sioux City Airport from 1975-1980. In 1980 they moved to Sidney, Nebraska where Don taught Aviation Mechanics at Western Nebraska Community College. He retired in 1991. He was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1994, to be closer to their children, they made Norfolk their home and became members of First Christian Church. He loved spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was always working on some kind of project at home or with his sons. Don is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) of sixty-one years; four children and their spouses, Dale and Karen of Wayne, David of Aurora, Co, Donna and Ron Hansen of Lincoln, and Dan and Janice of Norfolk; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; three brothers and their spouses, Delyle of Montley, MN, Darwin and Genny of Holdredge, and Dean and Shirley of Fullerton; four sisters and their spouses, Darlene and Gerald Jensen of North Loup, Dorene and Byron Barnes of Cotesfield, Deanna and Larry Barta of Elyria, and Delores and Alan Bennet of Palmer; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister-in-law, Katie Johnson. Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church at 1408 E Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701. Cards may be sent to Elizabeth Johnson at 921 Pierce Street, Norfolk, NE 68701
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