Ernest John Johnson, 86, of West Union, Iowa passed away peacefully on January 8, 2023 with his family by his side. He had fought a courageous fifteen month battle against lymphoma.
He was born on February 24, 1936 at the old West Union Hospital (now the Historical Center), in the middle of one of the coldest winters on record, “Ernie” was the only son of the late Elmer and Anna Johnson. He spent most of his younger years growing up near Eldorado, until his parents bought the Falling Springs farm near Auburn. There he helped his parents farm, learned their craft and continued to grow in knowledge and wisdom. His life in those early years was centered in faith, love of family and hard work.
He attended early elementary in Eldorado and then the one room Windsor school house northwest of West Union through the 8th Grade. He had the mind of an engineer and fabricator. He learned engine mechanics by correspondence courses at the age of 16 while continuing to help on his parent’s farm. Those skills came in handy not only then, but as his life continued.
He was drafted into the US Army in December 1958 and served throughout Germany and along the border of Czechoslovakia before his service ended and he returned home in December 1960.
He worked as a mechanic at Falb Implement in Elgin for several years.
On January 13, 1962 the worlds of two people changed when he was introduced to Florence Leibold by a mutual friend. Their love blossomed and they were married on October 26, 1963. They lived in a ramshackle home with poor insulation, clapboard siding and no indoor plumbing for over 2 years. It was there they were blessed with their first born son, James in 1964.
In August of 1965, George and Shirley Olesen (long time neighbors who knew Ernie from his childhood and knew they were looking for a home and farm of their own) offered them the opportunity to buy the 300 acre farm they would call home the rest of his days.
As their love grew, so did their family. Their only daughter Ann was born in 1966, they were further blessed when Robert was born in 1969 and their “baby” Joseph rounded out the herd in 1971.
Over the years, Ernie taught his kids the world of farming on a shoestring. They rented and eventually bought Florence’s home farm near Fort Atkinson. For many years, they drove equipment by tractor between each farm, which are about 15 miles apart.
Ernie embraced some of today’s most accepted soil conservation practices early, like minimum till and no till farming and the effective use of waterways to control erosion in the hills and sand that they farmed. In good crop years and bad, his faith and hard work helped them through.
He taught his children the land preparation, planting, harvesting and storage of their crops as well as his God-honoring way of raising animals including hogs, chickens, ducks, dairy and beef cattle.
On the top of the list of all of the animals, Ernie loved beef. Tasty, tender, Iowa Beef. He was a master at raising quality beef and was heavily involved in its promotion through the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association. He was at one point the President of the organization, helping to promote it wherever he could. Although they raised Angus, Hereford and many mixed breeds of cattle, he became interested in and delved heavily into Murray Grey beef cattle, and was one of the few in Iowa that raised this Australian cross between an Angus and Shorthorn.
He was also a designer and builder, constructing and refurbishing many of the buildings on the farm over the years. He also refurbished and repaired many pieces of farm equipment, including tractors, and refurbished a White corn sheller – fabricating many of the parts from salvage pieces of other equipment. He involved his kids in that process and used it on the farm until their retirement. He taught his kids auto body and auto repair, helping and teaching them to do everything from oil changes, to brake jobs to engine replacement.
In early 2001, Ernie suffered a heart attack and they made the decision to slow down and enjoy life. Their neighbors at each farm stepped up and helped them that year to get the crops in and out that year. That is a true testament to “Iowa Nice” and a return of the help and friendship Ernie had offered over the years.
Ernie and Florence decided then to retire after that year, and they have rented the land to their neighbors ever since. They sold a few hundred head of cattle, some farm equipment and made plans to enjoy their later years. They traveled to see their children and their families who have spread out all over this great country. They saw family members and past Army buddies. Ernie loved traveling to Branson with Florence and her sister Judy and her husband Dale.
But Ernie was a worker. He got bored. So after a short stint of official retirement, Ernie teamed up with his good friend and neighbor Kenny Evenson. Together, they rebuilt old tractors and sold them. Ernie’s first tractor, a Farmall F20, was one of his favorite projects. He rebuilt several Farmall tractors over the years, including one that his father had used on their farm.
He also loved woodworking in his retirement, building many pieces in his garage. He restored chairs, built tables and wine racks. Ernie and Florence stripped and refinished the original wood trim in their home. He helped his grandson Austin build a guitar out of wood from trees on the farm which Austin played and sent a recently recorded video for Ernie to enjoy in his final days. All of these things not only made Ernie happy, but have provided lots of joy and memories for those he leaves behind.
Ernie is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Florence. He is also survived by his children: James and his wife Marie Bevier of Portland OR; Ann and her husband Chris Scherf of Marion IA; Rob and his long time girlfriend Rachel Terry of Appleton WI; and Joe and his wife Spring (Reese) of Aberdeen SD. He is also going to be missed by 14 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, many other relatives, friends and Rob’s ex-wife Rhonda (Schwade) who Ernie still considered family and had a special bond with as a long time cancer survivor herself.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Anna (Lerch) Johnson and his granddaughter Frances Johnson.
A celebration of Ernie’s amazing life will be held with visitation from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday January 12, 2023 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before mass at the church on Friday.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am at Holy Name Parish in West Union, Iowa on Friday January 13, 2023.
A luncheon with family and friends will be held after the service at Holy Name Parish Hall.
Burial with military honors will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Fort Atkinson at 1:30 PM.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN and Oelwein Health Care Center for all they have done over the past many weeks and months.
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union, Iowa is assisting the family with services.