WAUNAKEE/DANE-Kenneth Jerome Johnson, age 102, passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Home Again Living, Waunakee. He was born on August 11, 1915 in Dane, the son of John and Elizabeth Johnson. Kenneth married Eleanor D. Wilke on August 11, 1943.
Kenneth graduated from Lodi High School and went on to graduate from the UW Agriculture Short Course. Kenneth represented his family by enlisting in the US Army Air Corp in 1942 and served in the 447th Bomb Group 8th air force. Prior… Read More » to being stationed in England and with a 5-day furlough, he and Eleanor married.
While stationed in England, he was the maintenance crew chief for the B17 “Scheherazade”. If you talked to Kenneth, he was always happy to share that this plane completed 126 combat missions and returned to the US after the war. One of Kenneth’s most prized possession was the little clock from the cockpit of the Scheherazade.
Upon his return from the service, Kenneth and Eleanor raised their family on a farm just down the road from where he grew up in the town of Dane. Along with his farming, he had a 50-year career working for Raemisch Implement as a mechanic and salesman. Kenneth was proud to be a Charter Member of the Lodi Optimist Club that was initially organized by his Uncle Melvin Reppen.
He was also a member of the Dane American Legion Post No. 503. Well into his 90’s Kenneth enjoyed deer hunting with family and friends and annual fishing trips with his family to Northern Wisconsin.
Other joys in his life were bowling, golfing and running steam engines with his brothers Jim and Mike. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 74 years, Eleanor; five children, Barbara Kammel (Paul), John Johnson (Carol), Kris Patterson (Steve), Eric Johnson (Cindy) and Ellen Rehr (Bill); seven grandchildren, Nathan, Amanda and Erin, Emily and Laura, Zachary and Michael; seven great grandchildren, Cade and Drew, Anja and Ian, Henry and Charlie and Finley and his sister in law, Mary Johnson. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Johnson; brothers, James and Raymond and sisters, Anna, Myrtle, Angie, Clarice, Leila, and Elizabeth.
Funeral Services will be held at DEKORRA LUTHERAN CHURCH, N3099 Smith Road, Poynette, at 11 am, Saturday, April 21, 2018, with Reverend Ryan Rouse presiding. Burial will be in Arlington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL HOME, 157 South Main Street, from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday, April 20, 2018 and again on Saturday from 10 am until the time of the service at the church.
To Kenneth, family was the most important thing in his 102 years of life. The family would like to thank the staff at Home Again Living, Right at Home of Waunakee and Agrace HospiceCare for the loving care you gave to Kenneth. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Lodi Optimist Club and Dane American Legion Post No.
503. Online condolences may be made at www. gundersonfh.com.
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