James Clifford Johnson, 87, of Ottumwa, died July 11, 2021 at his home.
He was born March 20, 1934 in Fond du Lac, WI to Clifford and Margerite DuFrane Johnson. He married Janice Ruth Coulahan June 8, 1957 and she preceded him in death December 31, 2019.
A graduate of Fond du Lac High School, Jim attended Wisconsin State College in Oshkosh. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves, spending 2 years active duty as a Naval Corpsman. He was attached to a Marine Division while serving in Korea during the Korean War. He returned to Oshkosh and graduated from Wisconsin State College with a degree in Biology and minored in Physical Education and History.
In 1957 he was offered a position as the Physical Director of the YMCA in Ottumwa which he held until 1963. He worked 22 years for John Deere Ottumwa Works retiring in 1985. Jim became an Engineering Consultant, consulting for Southeast Iowa Development and others throughout his retirement.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Wapello County Historical Society where he served as President of the museum for 5 years, and was a founding member of the Brittany Club of Iowa. He enjoyed antique cars, attending car shows with his wife, Janice, as well as spending time gardening at home.
Surviving is a daughter, Janci Rae (Chester) Wellborn of Ottumwa; two sons, James Mark Johnson of Dubuque and Jon Allen Johnson (Carol Wilt) of Rockton, IL; five grandchildren, James Maize, Joseph (Heather) Maize, Jacob (Ariel) Johnson, Nathan Johnson and Whitney Johnson; 11 great- grandchildren, Christopher Eidson, Kelsey Maize, Shayla Maize, Ian Maize, Alanya Maize, Alaura Maize, William Bowen, Grant Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Anna Johnson, and Noah Johnson; 2 step-great-grandchildren, Kobey and Davin Durflinger; a sister, Diane Haase of Fond du Lac, WI; a brother-in-law, Elmer Steffes of Mt. Calvary, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two granddaughters, Lindsey Bowen and Jancinie Maize; two sisters, Betty Steffes and Joan Pixley; a brother-in-law, James Haase.
Visitation will be open after 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 14th at Reece Funeral Home with his family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, July 15th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Hornback officiating. For those unable to attend, you may watch live on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to the Wapello County Historical Museum or the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame with the National Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, TN.
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