Gary I. Johnson

Gary I. Johnson, 79, of Osco, passed away Tuesday April 25, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Private graveside services will be held at Western Township Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, Hillcrest Nursing Home, or the Osco Andover Community Fire District. Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Orion, is assisting the family.

Gary was born on August 28, 1943, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the son of Irving and Esther (Cask) Johnson. He married Nancy Maeltzer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in September 1963. Gary was a proud graduate of Orion High School (1961). He received a B.S. (Agricultural Economics) from Western Illinois University (1965), and an M.S. (Crop Science) from the University of Illinois (1990). He began his career as a farm manager with First National Bank of Peoria and in 1968 began working at Hutchinson Farm Management in Geneseo, where he worked until he retired. He worked extensively with livestock share leases and pasture raised swine and was an active member of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA).  He operated a small swine and grain operation near Osco.  Gary was a member of First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, was active on the University of Illinois Crop Sciences Advisory Committee for the College of Agriculture and helped create the Illinois Certified Crop Advisor Program, serving as their first president. He earned his private pilot license and restored antique MG cars. He enjoyed trips to Sweden and supervising his sons’ home improvement projects. He valued education and hard work and encouraged his family to do the same.

Survivors include his children, Bill (Sue) Johnson, Lafayette, IN, Scott (Kim) Johnson, Champaign, IL; grandchildren, Jacob, Heather, Andrew, Erica; sister, Ingrid (Tom) Johnson-Hilgendorf, Omaha, NE.

Memories may be shared on the tribute wall.