John Edward Johnson

Services for John Edward Johnson, 77, of Indianola, Iowa will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas. A luncheon will be held at the funeral home following the service. Interment will be at the Dallas Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made in John’s honor to the Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church or Suncrest Hospice.

The service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/john-johnson-2022

Family will greet friends prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday.

John Edward Johnson was born on August 22, 1944, south of Milo, Iowa to Jesse and Gladys Marie (Whitlow) Johnson. He grew up in the Milo area alongside his brother, Paul. They attended grade school in Milo. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in May 1962.

John met Geraldine Linda Mart, and the two were married on October 18, 1964, a very sunny and crisp day, in the Dallas United Methodist Church. Their ten-day honeymoon to Florida was possible, because Dad Johnson milked the cows while they were away.

The couple was blessed with four daughters who have brought them infinite joy. Jonette Sue was born September 14, 1965, in Osceola, Iowa; Cheryl Lynn was born April 13, 1967, in Osceola; Penny Lea was born August 14, 1971, in the car in Osceola, Iowa; and Jill Marie was born June 30, 1975, in Knoxville, Iowa.

John worked at the Iowa Soldiers Home, at Montgomery Wards, at United Building Center (lumber yard), dairy farmed, drove a truck for various companies, as well as factory work at John Deere, AMF, and 3M.

John and Linda moved into a remodeled building and dairy farmed east of Indianola. In 1967, they moved to the farmhouse where Jesse and Gladys had lived. They attended Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church.

They purchased their first house in 1972 on Main Street in Dallas, Iowa. John was doing factory work, and Linda was working at a health care facility all while beginning their own business they called Crooked Tree Pottery and Antiques. The business specialized in pottery thrown on a kick wheel, sculpture, and primitives.

In 1976, the couple moved to Kirbyville, Missouri and started Country Fare Antiques in Branson. In 1977, the family returned to live in their Dallas home. They opened Country Fare in Indianola in January 1982. This shop specialized in furniture, country store items, and unusual primitives. It was truly a family endeavor.

Besides antiques, John and Linda and their family enjoyed traveling, camping, and fishing. John also enjoyed hobby racing, bowling, and auctions.

In 1985, after driving back and forth from Dallas to their antique shop in Indianola for four years, the couple decided to locate to an acreage west of Indianola. The family really enjoyed the country home. During this time, they became blessed with grandchildren. The Country Fare Antiques business grew with wholesale buyers.

On January 1, 2009, the couple moved to an apartment in Indianola where their family continued to grow with great grandchildren and God’s grace.

John will be dearly missed by his brother, Paul Johnson; wife of 57 years, Linda; daughters: Joni (Curt) Swanson, Cheryl (Wayde) Burk, Penny Porter, and Jill Wilkinson; 12 grandchildren: Joshua Swanson (Ashley), Jason Swanson (Chelsea), Jesse Swanson (Val), Caleb Burk (Megan), Savannah Paige (Brant), Megan Burk (Kris), Travis Burk (Becky), Trenton Burk, Jess Althaus (Gavin), Paige Porter, Mikayla Christensen (Cody), and Romey Keller; 21 great grandchildren: Grace, Gabe, Aailyah, Eyva, Wyatt, Evelyn, Lexi, Emmie, Brooklynn, Colby, Baylee, Paislee, Taylor, Tucker, Jayce, Emerson, Parker, Greyson, Cohen, Kaia, Maverick, plus one on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Gladys Johnson and grandparents, Dewey and Pearl Whitlow.