Gordon L. Johnson

GORDON JOHNSONAge 77 of Elburn, passed away Tuesday morning, May 6, 2008 at his home after a long and brave battle with cancer. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born, May 16, 1930 in Virgil Twp., IL, the son of Knut Leonard and Emma Sophia (Anderson) Johnson. They moved to the Tanna Farm on Fabyan Parkway when Gordon was a boy and he attended Geneva Schools where he graduated with the class of 1948.On April 17, 1954 he was united in marriage to Kathleen Jane Macho. They planned an early Spring wedding that was to have been safely ahead of Spring planting. As nature (and Gordon) would have it however, their honeymoon in New Orleans was cut short so that Gordon could be home to help his family get the crops planted. It was Kay’s introduction to "life with Gordon". For the next 54 years, the lives revolved around farming. As Kay would discover you could take Gordon off the farm but you could not take farming out of the man! In 1955, their son Ronald just six months old, Gordon was drafted into the Army. Gordon served two years as a guard at Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas until 1957 when he returned to his family and farm. His father and brother both in poor health, Gordon was granted and early discharge in order to help with the harvest that year.Before long, Gordon and Kay moved their family to the Anderson Farm at the corner of Meredith Road and Rt. 38. They made their home there until 1965 when they moved to Schrader road. In 1979 they retired to Kaneland Estates (a country subdivision appropriately surrounded by corn). There they made their home until 2002 when they moved into Elburn. It was in the middle sixties that Gordon began to split his time between farming and sales as he began selling feed for Hintzche Feed and Grain, Troxel. Always friendly, Gordon loved people and was drawn into sales naturally. From then on, Gordon never had to look for a job – they came looking for him. From 1968 to 1971 he worked as a J.I. Case Salesman for L.& M. Equipment, DeKalb and From 1971 to 1976 he sold John Deere’s for Forester Implements, DeKalb.That sales career would have continued perhaps for many years had it not been for the double tragedy of losing a son and soon afterward, suffering a brain aneurysm. But Gordon Johnson was not a "quitter". Indeed he pressed on with Kay’s full support. Although his memory may have suffered, the ever friendly, always positive "Gordy" soon returned to the Kaneland farming community. For a time he served as custodian to the fledgling Elburn and Countryside Community Center where he naturally lent a hand to the day-care center as well. A life-long member of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, he was also a long time member of the Community Church, Elburn. Although Gordon was always busy doing something, you could find him late in the evening, engrossed in an Alistar MacLean novel or his last and favorite novel, Trinity by Leon Uris. The story of Gordon’s life was "handwritten" into the hearts of his family and countless friends. By all accounts that biography is a timeless classic from which chapters will long be recounted whenever farmers gather; whenever the lives of good men are remembered with a story and a smile. SURVIVORS In addition to his wife of 54 years, Kay, he is survived byFour children and their families: Ronald G. (Cindy) Johnson of McKinney, TX, And their two sons: Robbie and Stevie ;Mary Ann (Mike) Weber of Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAnd their two daughters: Lauren and Elise;Kenneth L. (Jan) of Danville, CA And their two children: Torrie and SpenserRobert D. (Kelsey) Johnson of Elburn, ILAnd their family Haley and Conor. One brother Robert and his wife Loretta Johnson of Indiana, PA. One sister-in-law Helen Johnson of Batavia, Il. and one brother-in-law Roy Johnson of Lily Lake. Many Nieces and nephews.PRECEDED He is preceded in death by one son, Stephen L. Johnson, by his parents, Knut and Emma Johnson, one brother, Richard and one sister Norma. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Gordon’s name to benefit his church, the Elburn library and hospice care. Memorials checks may be made to the Gordon Johnson Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. Arrangements and services entrusted to Conley Funeral Service. For information call 630-365-6414 or 1-800-8-CONLEY.

A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 10am-11:45am at the Community Church, Main and Shannon Streets, Elburn. A memorial service will follow at 12 O’clock, noon. The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Dire will officiate.

Private family committal services will later be held at Blackberry Township Cemetery, Elburn.