Richard S Johnson

Richard Siegel Johnson, 89, of Rock Island passed away Friday, September 11, 2009 in his home. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 16 at Wendt Funeral Home,1811 - 15th Street Place, Moline, Illinois. Visitation will precede the service at 11a.m. Memorials may be made to Augustana College, Rock Island. Dick was born February 29, 1920 in Moline, the son of Esley E. Johnson and Meta Lena Siegel Johnson. He graduated from Moline High School in 1938. He played football, ice hockey and golf. A favorite pastime was sailing his snipe on the Mississippi. After high school he attended Augustana College until his student days were interrupted by World War II. He enlisted and served in the Army Engineers 368th Regiment. He served in France rebuilding railroad stations and gasoline pipe lines before moving into Germany. He resumed his studies at Augustana graduating in 1946 with a degree in business and minor in psycology. He was a member of the Omicron Sigma Omicron fraternity. He was an avid fan of the football and basketball teams. In 1943 he married Phyllis Ed at Christ Episcopal Church in Moline and had three children. He worked for International Harvester in material control management from 1946-1954. Then he took to the open road as a district sales manager for Holo-Krome Screw Corp., a manufacturer of industrial fasterners. Every summer the family would take a two week road trip, camping much of the time. Most of the United States was seen on these busman’s holidays. He retired from Midwest Scale in 1983. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moline. He had a wonderful group of friends. There were many picnics and monthly bridge club gatherings with lots of laughter. He was a member of a loving, amiable family where get togethers are fun. One summer he caught the record muskelunge at Moose Lake, Wisconsin, 20 lbs. 45”. In later years, following the Cubs, an occasional outing to the race track, putting together jigsaw puzzles, doing crossword and jumble puzzles and playing solitare was a source of enjoyment for him. Mr. Johnson is survived by his daughter, Amy Johnson, San Antonio, Texas; son, Mark Johnson, Rock Island; two grandchildren, Surraya, San Antonio and Brianne, Moline; step-grandson, Eric Croegaert; two greatgrandchildren, Kaya and Tori; a sister, Barbara Bell, Moline. He was preceded in death by his wife; baby son, Gregory; two sisters, Nancy Lyons and Elizabeth Heick. Dad passed away on what would have been Mom’s 89th birthday.