Edwin L. Johnson

Edwin L. Johnson, 85, of Riverdale, died July 14, 2014 at the St. John’s Good Samaritan Society in Kearney. Memorial services will be Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Riverdale Community Hall with Pastor Dean Pofahl officiating. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Ed was born August 4, 1928 near Tekamah, Nebraska, the 5th son of Dwight and Genevieve (Robertson) Johnson. He spent most of his childhood in the Decatur, Nebraska area, graduating from Decatur High School. After graduation he moved to Lincoln and was employed by the State of Nebraska Road Department, enrolling in a Civil Engineering course. Ed married Maxine Pond on September 30, 1950 in Lyons, Nebraska. Early in his their marriage, Ed joined the 370th Engineering Corp. He spent many hours supervising the building of miles of roads in the state and eventually was hired by Missouri Valley Construction Company, a subsidiary of Peter Kiewit, to be in charge of all dirt excavating work in the state of Nebraska, again supervising the building of miles of roads. In 1971 he was hired by Kearney, County to be their county road and bridge superintendent. While there he was appointed by Governor J.J. Exon to serve on the Board of Examiners for County Highway and City Street Superintendents. In a letter written to Ed, the governor said, “I am sure that your contribution in this area of public service will be a credit to our great State.” Ending his workdays, he went in business for himself in a polyurethane spraying and painting company. Ed was a hard worker, good husband, and father. He enjoyed his family and work. In the years of road work they moved 30 times and made many friends throughout the state. He had a strong faith, studied his bible, loved music, played the harmonica, and enjoyed dancing. Surviving relatives include his wife Maxine of Riverdale, NE, daughters: Susan King of Phoenix, AZ, Danita Beadle and her husband Kern of Kearney, NE, Marta Nelson and her husband Ray of Wayne, NE, sons: Steve Johnson of Kearney, NE, Jeff Johnson of Riverdale, NE, 13 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, brother George “Dib” Johnson and his wife Lois of Sacramento, CA, along with several nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clayton, Wayne Byron “Blackie”, and Fred Johnson, sister Marilyn (Oldenhage) Heiner, grandson Danny Nelson, and daughter-in-law- Barbara (Siebke) Johnson. PDF Printable Version

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Edwin L. Johnson

August 4, 1928 - July 14, 2014