- Date Of Birth: January 22, 1942
- Date Of Death: December 22, 2022
- State: Nebraska
Dennis Leon Johansen, age 80, of Osceola, Nebraska, passed away December 22, 2022 at Annie Jeffrey Hospital in Osceola.
Dennis was born January 22, 1942 to Arthur and Alice (Kershaw) Johansen in Shelby, Nebraska. He attended country school at Polk County District 68 and Osceola Public Schools. In December 1959 he joined the US Navy and served through January 1963 on the USS Midway and the USS Norton Sound. Following his discharge he stayed in California for a few months and worked at a dairy farm in Oxnard, California. He returned to Nebraska in June 1963 and lived and worked the rest of his life in Osceola.
On June 5, 1965 he married Jackie Rutter. To this union 3 children were born. They divorced in 1986.
Dennis and Jackie purchased the grocery store in Osceola in 1973. It was Johansen’s Jack and Jill for 10 years until they sold the store in 1983. The store was a hub of the community and many stories were shared in the back room over a cup of coffee. He was very active in the Osceola Chamber of Commerce and promoted the community at every opportunity.
Over the years Denny also worked construction, drove truck, farmed and raised cattle, delivered buses, and transported Burlington railroad workers. His final job before retiring in 2003 was with the Nebraska Department of Roads in York where he made many new friends.
In 1986 Dennis trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He read his Bible faithfully and was always writing down notes (on whatever piece of paper he could find…) as he studied Scripture and listened to Charles Stanley and other Bible teachers. He also had the opportunity to work for Pointman Ministries, a ministry organization that served veterans and their families.
Dennis enjoyed sports, and supported all Osceola athletic teams and later on followed the Cross County Cougars as he watched his grandkids participate in various sports and activities. He coached midget football in Osceola in the early 1970’s. Members of the team were from Osceola, Shelby and Rising City. He also managed the Osceola Semi-Pro Baseball team for several years. He was inducted into the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 as a Business Manager.
Dennis was a member of William Wolfe Post 91 in Osceola, Nebraska.
He enjoyed having morning coffee at his house with the “regulars”, sharing his wisdom with his kids and grandkids so they wouldn’t forget the important things in life, and getting to know new people. He rarely met a stranger and within minutes would make you feel like he knew you your whole life. After retirement he partnered with Ron Boruch to grow the best pickling cucumbers possible. Dennis spent countless hours in the pickle patch, weeding, watering, picking and scrubbing cucumbers to ensure his pickles were unmatched.
One of Dennis’ favorite verses reflected his life and his desire to care for others and see that their needs were met. Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Survivors include: son Kyle (Renate) Johansen of Stromsburg, daughter Roni (Mike Branting) of Stromsburg, son Toby (Trisha) Johansen of Osceola; grandchildren Meghan Johansen of Omaha, Kaler, Emily, and Silas Johansen of Stromsburg, Rachel Branting of Stromsburg, Laura (Dylan) Bjerrum of York, Sarah (Seth) Minturn of Omaha, Levi Johansen of Columbus, Ruby, Madalyn and Marshall Johansen of Osceola; one great grandson Daxton Bjerrum of York. Brothers Bill (Nadine passed 12-24-22) Johansen and Jerry (Janet) Johansen of Osceola; sisters Joan (Jim) Sterup of Stromsburg, Dorothy Cole of Columbus, sister in law JoAnn Donelson of Stromsburg and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Eugene (Jinx) Johansen, Robert Johansen and his wife Marjorie; sister Patricia Richards and husband David, and brother in law Gene Cole.
