Forrest Bruce Johnson
February 6, 1927 — June 21, 2019
Forrest B. Johnson was born February 6, 1927 in the Odebolt, Iowa hospital, son of Seth and Gertie (Johnson) Johnson. He was baptized at age 12 in the Arthur Baptist Church. He grew up on a farm and went to Wheeler #4 Country School in Sac County. He graduated from the Odebolt High School in 1944, where he was Senior Class President, Track Captain, and received the American Legion and Danforth Foundation awards. He joined the Navy in 1945 and served in the Pacific Theater where he visited the Atomic Bomb site in Nagasaki two months after the bb. He returned home on the ATA 203, a seagoing tug, towing a dry dock. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a major in Agriculture Education.
On July 13, 1951, Forrest married Mary Ann Armstrong in Morning Sun, Iowa. They had two sons: Thomas William and Ted Robert. He taught Agriculture in Newton, Iowa and Monticello, Iowa. He worked for 17 years for the USDA and Harlan National Bank. They moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1974 where he established, taught and coordinated the Banking Program. He worked for 5 years as a debt counselor during the farming crisis.
Forrest was active in Lions Club, Congregational Church, and the American Legion. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, bowling, and woodworking. He was an avid antique tool collector and belonged to numerous antique tool organizations.
Forrest died on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, attaining the age of ninety-two years, four months, and fifteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Conwell and Duane, sisters Leone and LaVerne. Survivors include his wife Mary Ann Johnson of Harlan, Iowa; sons Tom Johnson and his wife Simone of Austin, Texas; Ted Johnson of Harlan, Iowa; grandson Townes Johnson of Austin, Texas, nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
On July 13, 1951, Forrest married Mary Ann Armstrong in Morning Sun, Iowa. They had two sons: Thomas William and Ted Robert. He taught Agriculture in Newton, Iowa and Monticello, Iowa. He worked for 17 years for the USDA and Harlan National Bank. They moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1974 where he established, taught and coordinated the Banking Program. He worked for 5 years as a debt counselor during the farming crisis.
Forrest was active in Lions Club, Congregational Church, and the American Legion. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, bowling, and woodworking. He was an avid antique tool collector and belonged to numerous antique tool organizations.
Forrest died on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, attaining the age of ninety-two years, four months, and fifteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Conwell and Duane, sisters Leone and LaVerne. Survivors include his wife Mary Ann Johnson of Harlan, Iowa; sons Tom Johnson and his wife Simone of Austin, Texas; Ted Johnson of Harlan, Iowa; grandson Townes Johnson of Austin, Texas, nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
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