Elmer W Johnson

Elmer W. Johnson, 97, of Orion, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020.

A private memorial service will be held at Esterdahl Mortuary, Orion. Burial will be at Lutheran Cemetery, Orion. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

A celebration of life/drive-by in his honor will be on Thursday, June 11th at 4:30PM starting at Orion High School and driving by his residence, 1015 11th Avenue in Orion.

Elmer was born on August 14, 1922 in Geneseo, the son of Knute and Oliva Karlson Johnson. He married Mary Frances Cook on November 30, 1947, at Beulah Presbyterian Church in Orion. Elmer worked as an assembler, repairer, and painter at I.H. Farmall Works for 38 years. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp for 4 years and was stationed at Pacific Area Peleliu and Okinawa. Elmer received 2 Purple Hearts in WWII. Elmer was a member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Orion, IL. He was on the St. Paul Lutheran Property Committee Cemetery Board for 6 years. He was active in the American Legion, a VFW member, as well as the local 1506 UAW Union. Elmer was also a little league coach for Orion. He visited all 50 states with his wife and loved to paint during his retirement.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; children, Thomas Johnson, Daniel (Karen) Johnson, Marty (Suzanne) Johnson, and Malia (Steve Knochenmus) Owens; half-brothers, Andy Johnson and Leonard Johnson; half-sisters, Evelyn Schollerman and Iris Hamilton; grandchildren, Kelly (Scott) Peterson, Kevin (Emily) Johnson, Sara (Eoin) Walsh, Corey Johnson, Ashley (Tyler) Horberg, and Destiny Knochenmus; greatgrandchildren, Kody & Bryan Peterson and Kyah & Kile Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Margaret Johnson Hertz; brothers, Carl Johnson and L. Willard Johnson; Daughter-in-law, Phyllis Johnson.

Memories may be shared online by visiting the tribute wall.