Larry K. Johnson

Larry Kenneth Johnson, 80, passed away peacefully, in his sleep, in his home in Omaha, Nebraska on March 19, 2022.

Larry, Papa as he was known to his family, was born on July 11, 1941, the second son of Berneice Arlene (Rasche) Johnson and Victor Lyle Johnson in Holstein, IA. He grew up in Iowa and graduated from Holstein High School in 1959. Following high school, Larry moved to Wayne, Nebraska where he attended college, meeting his wife Karen (Baker) in 1963.

Larry earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Wayne State College in 1964. He became an industrial arts and drivers ed teacher before starting his own cabinet business, Johnson Counter Tops, in Omaha, Nebraska. Larry eventually sold his business but continued working in cabinetry until he retired.

Larry was most proud of his service in the Air National Guard from 1964 -1969 where he attained the rank of Staff Sargent, serving as a Fire Protection Supervisor. He served overseas in Korea.

Larry loved gardening and spent much of the year planting, tilling, tending to and harvesting his very large garden. He enjoyed watching sports, especially football. He cheered on the Huskers and Kansas City Chiefs. Larry dreamed of hitting it big and regularly played the lottery.

In his retirement years, Larry took the time to text and call each of his children and his brother, every morning, to give the weather report, his itinerary for the day and find out what everyone was doing that day. One of his favorite things was to know all of the family gossip, have all the secrets, and one-up everyone with the amount of precipitation he’d received. On the day of Larry’s passing, there was a low of 35º, a high of 75º, sun and a slight breeze.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his son Larry Patrick (Christina) Johnson.

Survivors include wife Karen (Baker) Johnson; brother Vernon (Jean) Johnson; children Shari (Steve) Fortune, Teri (Scott) Bowman, Jacqui (Josh) Donner; grandchildren, Dalton (Anna) Johnson, Katie (Matthew) Kisicki, Kyle Johnson, Brian (Jamie) Bowman, Erica Beebee, Nicholas (Kylee) Bowman, Jordan (Jeffrey) Peterson, Lauren Bowman (fiancé Austin Duncan), Aedyn Donner, Zoe Donner, Michael Donner; great-grandchildren, Alexzander, Alexis, Alexzandria, Alexa, Alexavian, Jackson, Brix, Brynlee, Maddux, Olivia, Owen.