John E "Jack" Johnson

John E "Jack" Johnson, age 78, passed away at the Western Nebraska Veteran's Home in Scottsbluff, on Wednesday, October 28th, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball with Pastor Roger Gillming officiating. Private family inurnment will be held in the Kimball Cemetery. Cremation has been held and friends may stop at the funeral home on Wednesday from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. to sign the register book and leave condolences for the family. Friends may also visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Jack's Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the American Parkinson's Disease Association (http://www.apdaparkinson.org/). The services for Jack have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Jack was born on June 7th, 1937 in Kimball, Nebraska. He is the son of Arthur H and Minnie (Dischner) Johnson. He grew up in Columbus and the Dix, Nebraska area. He graduated from St. Bonaventure Catholic High School in Columbus. He served his country in the U.S. Navy Air Corp in the Pacific Division of the Military Air Transport System from 1955-1957. He was married to Sharon Hoshor in 1957 at Columbus, Nebraska and to this union 5 children were born. Jack was later married to Donna Harms on March 20th, 1982. He spent most of his life as a wheat farmer in Western Nebraska. After retiring from farming, Jack and Donna began collecting antique toys and became well-respected antique toy dealers. He was a past member of the Dix Lions Club, Kimball JCs, Wheat Growers Association, Kimball Planning Commission, County Weed Board, Secretary of the REC Board, Cosmopolitan Club, Elks Club, President of District #4 School Board and charter member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid sports fan and worked for the Nebraska School Activities Association as a football, basketball and wrestling official for 32 years until Parkinson's disease prevented him from continuing. He spent his later years helping others cope and offering support to many with the same disease.

Survivors include son David and (Kathi) Johnson of La Crosse, WI, daughters Linda Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, Ellen and (Darryn) Dieken of Sammamish, WA, Leisa Johnson of Point Richmond, CA; step daughters Candi Dudney, Lori and (Craig) Maas, step sons Ronald and (Cheryl) Harms and Randy Harms all of Potter, Nebraska, brothers Everett Johnson of Gering, James Johnson of Omaha, sisters Vernetta Foote of Long Beach, California and Marilyn Roche of Omaha, 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur H Johnson and Minnie Dischner of Columbus, Nebraska, brother Arthur J Johnson of Dix, Nebraska, sister Alice Vorce of Denver, Colorado, infant son Michael Shay Johnson, wife, Donna M Johnson and 2 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.