James 'Jim' D. Johnson

IN MEMORY OF
JAMES “JIM” JOHNSON

BORN
August 14, 1948 ~ Sheldon, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
February 9, 2012 ~ Sioux Falls, South Dakota

VISITATION
From 2 - 6 P.M. Sunday, February 12, 2012
Family present from 2 – 4 P.M.
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Monday, February 13, 2012
St. Paul Lutheran Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Daniel Hart ~ Officiating

MUSIC
“The Old Rugged Cross”
“Amazing Grace”
Sung by: Susan Lichty
Accompanied by: Arlyce Oosterhuis
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“How Great Thou Art”
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
Organist: Ruth Heitritter

CASKET BEARERS
Ken Menning Kevin Menning
Steve Menning Jason Dalen
Jody Dalen Isaac Johnson

FINAL RESTING PLACE
St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Sheldon, Iowa (at a later date)

Military services by the
Sheldon V.F.W. Bunker-Peterson Post #7354
and the American Legion Mc Glothlen-Cowie
Post #145 of Sheldon, IA

After today’s service relatives and friends are invited
to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa

JAMES “JIM” JOHNSON

James “Jim” Donald Johnson, the son of Donald T. and Jacqueline (Abbott) Johnson was born August 14, 1948 in Sheldon, Iowa. He received his education in Sheldon graduating from Sheldon High School in 1967. While growing up in Sheldon he worked at Swanson’s Grocery which became Hy-Vee Grocery Store. On July 13, 1968, he was united in marriage to Francene Dalen in Estherville, Iowa He was inducted into the Army on January 28, 1969, which was during the Vietnam Conflict and received an honorable discharge on May 11, 1970. He furthered his education at NITC in Sheldon on the GI Bill and while in College he worked at Hy-Vee Grocery, Motor Supply and Ehlers. In 1974, he went to work for the Postal Service in Sheldon, where he was a mail carrier, sorted mail and for many years worked the window. He worked for a total of 35½ years for the Postal Service until his retirement in 2009. When asked about his job Jim said, “It’s not that hard when you love your job”. He passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD after a long battle with cancer reaching the age of 63 years, 5 months and 15 days.
He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon. He enjoyed his family, fishing, boating, being at the lake, riding motorcycles and walking.
Jim is survived by his wife, Francene of Sheldon; two children, a son; Aaron and his wife, Kristi Johnson and their children, Shelby, Hannah and Isaac; a daughter, April and her husband, Jerry Goebel and their children, Caitlyn and Claire Goebel all of Estherville, IA; his beloved dog, Dexter; two sisters, Sharon and her husband, Stan Menning of Dawson, MN and Pam and her husband, Darrel Stuner of Sheldon, WI; his mother-in-law, Margaret Dalen of Graettinger, IA; Francene’s family, Irlan (Terry) Dalen of Estherville, IA; Larry Dalen of San Diego, CA; Jerry Dalen and Rodney Dalen of Estherville, IA; Marlene (Dan) Nitchals of Mason City, IA; Ivan (Denise) Dalen of Graettinger, IA and Brenda (Dennis) Moore of Wallingford, IA; also nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Irven Dalen and an aunt and uncle, Ralph and Tootie Fokken.