Cleo Johnson

A funeral service for Cleo Johnson, age 88, of Spirit Lake, will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 2:00pm at Crosswinds Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, December 9th from 4:00-7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name. Cleo DeWayne, first born of Everett and Mary (Fank) Johnson was born on December 7, 1928 on a farm in Emmet County, Iowa. They lived on a farm near Gruver until 1941 when they moved to a farm northwest of Spirit Lake. The family grew to 6 children. All were busy with typical farming chores, milking cows, growing crops and doing much custom baling and combining. In 1950, he and his brother, Jeff, began farming on their own until they were called into the navy. Cleo served four years as a crew chief on a patrol bomber during the Korean War. In 1952, Cleo married Phyllis Birdsell at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The couple lived in Alameda, California until he was discharged in 1954. In 1955 they moved to a farm in Jackson County, Minnesota where they raised their four children. In 2013 they left the farm and moved back to Spirit Lake. Cleo was active in community affairs, serving on many boards and organizations. He did a great deal of volunteering, especially at local nursing homes. The elderly enjoyed his humor and talking about the "old days". He was passionate about honoring veterans and respect for the flag. His greatest joy was the grandkids and great-grandkids. He entertained everyone with his stories, participation and activities. He was given 64 years with the love of his life, Phyllis. Cleo passed away December 7, 2016 at his home in Spirit Lake at eighty-eight years of age. He is survived by wife, Phyllis; children, Dana (Robin) Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Darren (Donna) Johnson and Darice (Lynn) Mullins; twelve grandchildren, Jason (Angela) Johnson, Justin (April) Johnson, Cami (Ray) Sorenson, Cara (Chris) Scholten, Kendra (Aaron) Lind, Sheila (Cliff) Weinzetel, Lindsay (Paul)Harden, Kylie (Kevin) Ohlrich, Brandon (Bridget) Vodraska, Tawanna (Craig) Phephles, DeWayne Johnson and Danielle Burns; twenty-four great-grandkids; siblings, Jeff (Phyllis) Johnson, Bruce (Jan) Johnson and Ruby Dale (Perry) Bradshaw. He was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Mary Johnson; two sisters, Genevieve Waldron and her husband Jack and Fran Fronk and her husband, Merv; one son-in law, Steve Gazda.