- Date Of Birth: March 20, 1924
- Date Of Death: February 24, 2015
- State: Illinois
Mr. Richard E. “Dick” Johnson, 90, of Gilson, died at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at Seminary Manor. Dick was born on March 20, 1924, in Joy, IL the son of Oscar H. and Della H. (McNeal) Johnson.
Dick enlisted in the USMC at the age of 17 to fight in WWII. He served from September 3, 1942, to December 24, 1945. While in the Marine Corp. he was on the battlefield against the Japanese on Bougainville and in the Consolidation of the Solomon Island. He also served in the Asiatic Pacific Area; New Caledonia; Solomon Islands; Falau Islands; and the Marianas Islands. After he was discharged he came back home to marry Mary Jane McNamara whom he had met while working at the Aledo Times Record. They were married on January 19, 1946, in Aledo. Dick went on to work on the section gang for C.B.&Q. He also operated a fence installation business with his father and worked at Shale City Brickyard. After he and Mary moved to Gilson, Dick worked for Asbury Waste in Galesburg for a few years, and then went to C.B.&Q. in 1955 as a laborer and eventually became an electrician retiring on July 29, 1985. Dick enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting fishing, and riding his 4-wheeler. He also loved to bake brownies, fudge, and pie and was well known for his homemade ice cream. He also loved to drink coffee and read westerns.
Dick is survived by two sons, Richard E. (Carline) of Maquon and Norman L. (the late Janice) of Williamsfield; one daughter, Joyce (Kevin) Scholl of Wyoming; and two sisters, Donna Long of Aledo and Posie (Sam) Lafferty ofMoline. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Mack (Tiffany) Johnson, Eric Johnson, Beau (Amber) Johnson, Lacy (Cody) Niebuhr, Ethan Scholl, and Treyton Scholl; and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary on October 23, 2010, his parents, two brothers, John and Everett “Zeb”; and two sisters, Fione Folger and Bess Gamel.
