Garold “Gene” Johnson, age 93, died February 5, 2022, at Mount Joseph Senior Village. He was born September 6, 1928, in Cloud County near Aurora to Perry Albert Johnson and Anna Marie (Forsling) Johnson. He attended rural country schools at Cottonwood, New Hope, and Pleasant Hill in Cloud County, and graduated from Concordia High School in 1946.
Gene’s exceptional work ethic began at a very young age. He began delivering papers for the Blade Empire at the age of 13, then worked at the Ben Franklin store as a freshman in high school, and finally, began his career at the Cloud County Bank and Trust (now The Citizens National Bank), starting as a bookkeeper, and retiring as Senior Vice President in 1990, with a total of 41 years in banking. Gene attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Banking and graduated in 1982. From 1951 to 1953, Gene served as a U.S. Army Sergeant Medic in the occupational forces in Germany as part of the 28th Division, 110th Regiment, Company G.
In March of 1953, Gene proposed to Laura “Jean” Miller, the love of his life, and they were married on his 25th birthday, September 6, 1953, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Concordia.
Gene was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and then First United Methodist Church in Concordia. In 1971, he was instrumental in the renovation of Bethel Church (rural Cloud County) that was built by Swedish immigrants, including his parents. Throughout his life, Gene was extremely active in his community. He was a member of the Concordia Lions Club for 56 years, and served as District Governor from 1976-1977, and then served as secretary treasurer of the Kansas Lions from 1977-1978. He served on many State Lions committees, and he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship in 1993-1994. He served as the treasurer for Cloud County Community Jr. College for 43 years and served on various library boards, including the State Library Board, Central Kansas Library Board, and the Frank Carlson Library Board. Gene served as the chairman of the Cloud County Red Cross chapter for over 20 years, and donated just short of 15 gallons of blood during his lifetime until he was no longer able to give.
A loving father and grandfather who instilled an amazing work ethic in his children, Gene made sure that his family experienced sports and culture at every opportunity, and took them on extended summer vacations to 49 states and Canada.
Gene is survived by his sister, Victoria (Johnson) Roberts, Concordia; sister-in-law, Ila Johnson, Lindsborg; children Kim Oatney (Jim) Waterville, Kevin Johnson (Sheri) Concordia; grandson, Joshua Johnson, Overland Park (fiance Sarah Carollo, Lee’s Summit, Mo.); granddaughters Ashleigh Johnson, Tulsa, Okla., Kelsey Hamel, Shawnee, and Addison Johnson Lopez (Daniel) Bartlesville, Okla. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jean, his daughter Lynnette (Johnson) Hamel, son-in-law, Jim Hamel, and his siblings: Perry Johnson, Clayton Johnson, Melvin Johnson, Floyd Johnson, Alma (Johnson) Wright, Ida Lucille Johnson, Marvin Johnson, Leanna Johnson, Leo Johnson, and Treva (Johnson) Jorend.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. Sixth, Concordia, with Pastor David Redmond officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia, with military honors conducted by the Local American Legion Post #76, and U.S. Army Big Red One, Ft. Riley, Kansas. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 1-8 p.m. at the funeral home, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. The family asks that Gene's memory be honored by gifts to the Lions Club Sight First program or the American Red Cross, in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.
