- Date Of Birth: January 7, 1934
- Date Of Death: January 13, 2019
- State: Illinois
Fred William Johnson, Sr. liked to tell his kids, “When the going get’s tough, the tough get going” and on January 13, 2019 Fred led by his own example to the very end and left this life as he lived it – strong and loved by countless people, especially his high school sweetheart and wife of 61 years, the former Peggy Sue Jordan.
Fred was born in Beckemeyer, Illinois on January 7, 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression. His German grandparents raised him while his mother and father worked jobs throughout the state to make ends meet. Fred didn’t speak English until he was six years old. These two aspects of his childhood contributed to Fred’s resiliency and his immense fondness of talking to people. Fred Johnson never met a stranger. Once he learned English, he couldn’t stop creating conversations with everyone he met. The Johnson’s eventually moved to Centralia and his parents opened the Green Grill restaurant and later Johnson’s Drive In Liquor.
Fred went to Irving grade school and then Centralia High School. A tremendous athlete, Fred earned varsity letters in basketball, football and track. He was the point guard on the 1954-55 Kaskaskia Junior College basketball team that was ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Fred was known for his smile, sense of humor and his genuine love for people. Johnson’s Drive Inn Liquor, the business he ran for 26 years, was extremely successful because he believed each individual person mattered. Fred worked hard and played hard whether it was on the basketball court during pick up games, playing poker at the Elks, earning extra money as a mail carrier with the US Post Officer, or as an entrepreneur starting businesses out of his garage with Kay Chemical Company and Slot Car Race Track to supplement his income. And he was known (from time to time) to smoke stogies and share a beer with a Canadian Club and peppermint schnapps chaser with friends and tell stories while working the window at the liquor store.
He was also an intense competitor who would not refrain from antics to throw off golfing opponents by saying things like, “Cats up a rat’s behind,” (or something to that effect) right before they putted. His children never beat him at a sporting event – ever – during Fred’s life. Service was important to Fred. He served his nation in the Army from 1955 to 57. He also served as a volunteer grade school basketball coach at Schiller and St. Mary’s schools. Fred was a member of the First Apostolic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Moose and Elks. After selling Johnson’s Drive-Inn Liquor, Fred worked for Byrd Watson Drug Store delivering medicine to the elderly and those in need. Fred also bartended at the old “Sit’n Bull” bar on Popular Street from time to time just so he could hang out with his friends and tell stories. He passed a desire to serve to his kids. His daughter, Jan Brown, is a volunteer advocate for neglected and abused children and people with disabilities. His sons, Colonel Fred Johnson (USA, Retired) and LTC Theodore Johnson (USA, Retired), collectively served their nation for 54 years in the United States Army, deploying to a total six combat zones during their careers.
Fred loved to sing the Battle Hymn of Republic, in a very poor imitation of Elvis, and from time to time he could be seen dancing by himself as he tended the garden he loved at the house he and Peggy made home on Raccoon Lake after he retired. Fred’s legacy continues through his children and his grandchildren Theo, Madelyn and Benjamin. When asked by his kids how he would like to be remembered, he said, quoting Frank Sinatra one of his favorite performers, “I did it my way.”
