Milbourn Horace Johnson

Milbourn H. Johnson, 87, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, December 14, 2015, at his home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 19th, at 11:00 AM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Deacon Jeff Molitor officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Milbourn Horace Johnson was born on October 16, 1928 at his parents' home in the Forest Mills area of rural Postville, Iowa. He was the son of LeRoy and Ruth (Ralston) Johnson. He attended Jefferson Township #8 rural school. Milbourn's father died when he was 15, and in 1944 the family moved to California to work in the war effort. While in California, Milbourn worked in a plastics factory, as a pinsetter at a bowling alley and at a filling station. In 1946 he moved back to Iowa with his family, and helped run the family filling station and did odd jobs. In 1950 he moved to Cedar Rapids and worked at Fruehauf Trailer. Milbourn was drafted into the US Army and served during 1951 and 1952. He attained the rank of corporal and earned a Purple Heart for his service in Korea. Following his discharge he returned to Cedar Rapids and Fruehauf Trailer. On November 26, 1953 he married Marcella Mae Mellick at the St. Patrick Catholic Church Rectory in Waukon, Iowa. In 1954 they bought a farm on Silver Creek and operated a dairy herd and kept an assortment of livestock. Milbourn also worked a variety of jobs off the farm. After retirement they moved to Waukon in 2000.

Milbourn was a member of the VFW and Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, doing mechanic work and tinkering in his garage. Milbourn loved spending time with his grandchildren and was an avid fan of Western shows and movies.

Survivors include his wife Marcella of Waukon; his children: Melodye (Richard) Protsman, Monica Roderick and Marlene (Ed) Ahouse, all of Waukon, Maynard Johnson of Lansing, Iowa, and Maxine (Jeff) Koepp of Coralville, Iowa; 12 grandchildren: Emily, Colin, Myrta and Grant Protsman, Stacie Johnson, Chelsie (Johnson) Winkler, Brandon and Amanda Roderick, and Taji, Keegan, Darby and Oonagh Ahouse; 12 great-grandchildren; and his first great-great-grandchild due in January of 2016. He is preceded in death by his parents and 5 siblings: Hazel Stocker and Mary, Harrison, Levi and Orville Johnson.

Casketbearers are Colin Protsman, Grant Protsman, Brandon Roderick, Keegan Ahouse, Richard Protsman, Jeff Koepp and Ed Ahouse.