Dean Johnson

Dean R. Johnson, 82, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, October 16, 2014, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 20th, at 10:30 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Dean Richard Johnson was born August 1, 1932, in rural Waukon, IA, the son of Oscar and Selma (Wilke) Johnson. He was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon. He attended Jefferson School #8. On November 4, 1955, Dean married Delores Sorum at the Old East Paint Creek Parsonage in rural Waterville, IA. In November 1955, Dean was drafted into the United States Army and served until November 1957; he was stationed at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma. He returned to Allamakee County, IA, and for 35 years Dean was a school bus driver. He especially liked driving the activity routes and knew all the back roads to get to many places. For 20 years, Dean was also a cheese maker for the Ludlow Dairy; he and his family enjoyed his time there as they received many delicious cheese curds.

Dean liked to travel and made many fishing trips to northern Minnesota. He and Delores also went to Branson, MO, and the Minnesota State Fair. He particularly loved going to the Iowa State Fair and took two days each trip to see it all. The trip Dean always looked forward to the most was going to Gays Mills, WI, and their apple orchards each year (each time he bought a whole bushel of apples). One month before he died, Dean was able to make one last special trip there.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, where he was an usher and also served on the church council for one year. He liked Mabe's pizza, watching parades, and watching football and baseball. He loved spending time with family and friends, which included playing euchre and picking strawberries and raspberries.

Dean is survived by his wife Delores of Waukon; his five children: Diane (Joe) Ryan of Waukon, Debra (Jim) Ohlhauser of Amana, IA, Denise (Scott) Kregel of Monona, IA, Darryl Johnson of Amana, IA, and Deanna Schroeder of Big Lake, MN; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers: LaVern (Jeanette) Johnson of Postville, IA, and Keith (Darlene) Johnson of Elgin, IA; two sisters: Norma Bloxham and Dorothy (Gary) Gress, both of Waukon; sister-in-law Beverly Johnson of Waukon; and brother-in-law Howard (Judy) Sorum of Atkins, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather Lester Neverman; four brothers: Roger, Marland "Bud", his twin brother Dale, and DuWayne Johnson; three sisters: Marnetta Snitker, Delores Berg, and infant sister Helen Jean Johnson; and son-in-law Dave Schroeder.

Honorary casketbearers are Kealy Dahlstrom, Angela Durnin, Alisha Kregel, Emily and Amy Jo Schroeder, and Dean's great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Brandon Ryan, Allen and Steven Ohlhauser, Kyle Kregel, Tyler Schroeder, T.J. Durnin, and Chris Dahlstrom.