James Johnson

James "Jim" H. Johnson, 85, of Waukon, IA, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 10th, at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. A private burial with military honors will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 1:30 PM until the time of services Saturday at the church. In consideration of concerns regarding Covid-19, social distancing and wearing of masks is mandatory. The service will be live streamed on First Baptist Church's facebook page and youtube channel. Condolences may be sent to Helen Johnson at 430 4th Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

James Harlan Johnson was born January 15, 1935, in Waukon, IA, upstairs in the Waukon Greenhouse; he was the son of Harlan Jerome and Jean Marie (Kruger) Johnson. As a teenager, Jim was baptized in the Yellow River. In 1952, he graduated from Waukon High School and in the fall of 1953, Jim went to Bryan College in Dayton, TN. The first month he was there, with his blue eyes and motorcycle, Jim was able to woo Helen Henning. She was the love of his life and they married on June 8, 1957, at Grace Brethren Church in Middlebranch, OH.

On September 15, 1955, Jim started the Aviation Cadet Program for the U.S. Air Force in Harlingen, TX. Then on December 13, 1956, he was commissioned as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant with Navigator Wings and was stationed at McGuire AFB in Fort Dix, NJ, from January 1956-61, as a navigator for the military air transport service (MATS), flying C-118s all over the Pacific and Europe. From 1961-65, Jim was Air Force active reserve and flew out of O'Hare in Chicago. At this time, he met lifelong friends from Wisconsin. Following that, until 1972, he was still in the reserves, but flew out of Richards-Gebaur AFB in Kansas City, MO, with C-124s and C-130s in Vietnam and worldwide. Jim flew C-130s out of Minneapolis, MN, from 1972-78. In October 1978, Jim retired as a Lt. Colonel with over 9,000 hours of airtime and 23 years of service.

In 1961, he and Helen moved back to Waukon and they helped run the Waukon Greenhouse with Jim's family, purchasing the business in 1964. Jim was renowned for his beautiful poinsettias and geraniums. Jim was active in the Society of Iowa Florists and was president for one year. In 2001, he and Helen retired.

Jim was also active in the Waukon Drill Team, which he helped form with other veterans, and was a member of the American Legion. He retained his private pilot license and belonged to the Waukon Flying Club. At Grace Fellowship Church in Decorah, IA, Jim was in leadership and a shepherd; he and Helen were currently attending First Baptist Church in Waukon. He was very passionate about his Harley "Galloping Gerty" and took many motorcycle rides. He was awarded a 25,000 mile club membership by Harley Davidson. Also, Jim biked in RAGBRAI for five years. He and Helen enjoyed traveling all over the country and he liked the outdoors, camping, elk and deer hunting, and was an avid reader. Jim was a very loyal person and was very encouraging and loyal to his family. Jim went home to be with the Savior he loved; it was very important to him to know his family's salvation.

Jim is survived by his wife Helen of Waukon; his children: Sherrie (Gil) Hunstad of Waukon, Scott (Noreen) Johnson of New Holstein, WI, Chad (Cheryl) Johnson of Richfield, MN, and Heather (Cary) Hermanson of Waukon; grandchildren: Josh (Stephanie) Hunstad, Lisa (Travis) Drehmel, Caleb (Laura Sorenson) Hunstad, Matt Quandahl, Tara (Mike) McMullen, Alyssa (Nick) Wong, Brett Hermanson, Adam (Christine) Johnson, Luke Hermanson, and Caryssa Hermanson; 10 great-grandchildren; two half-sisters: Debbie Sickels and Diane Johnson; a half-brother Dave Johnson; and sister-in-law Charlotte (Tom) Horney. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Jim's grandchildren will serve as casketbearers.