Montezuma - My husband, our father, (Charles) Duane Johnson was born on December 20, 1927 to Herman and Mary (Holdeman) Johnson in Medina County, Ohio. He peacefully passed away on the evening of September 13, 2017 at Bethel Home in Montezuma, Kansas, at the age of 89.

When he was 9 years old, the family moved to Summerdale, Alabama. This move he well remembered and often spoke of it. It was here at the age of 14, that he gave his heart to God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. He was faithful to his vows until the end.

In 1946 the family made another move to DeRidder Louisiana. He left home at age 20 to find employment in Hesston, Kansas where he worked for one year, after which he decided to go back to DeRidder to help his dad on the dairy.

In July 1950 he went to California to see his sister Theda and brother-in-law Harvey Dyck, found a job and a wife and stayed for16 years. Mildred Koehn became his wife on April 1, 1951.

Dad worked at G&M Manufacturing in Winton, California for several years, where he developed a love for welding and working with metal. He then worked for a farmer as a mechanic and also had his own small almond orchard and home on Longview avenue at Atwater, California. Seven children were born to them in these years.

Having lived his childhood in Ohio, he always wanted to return to the north, and in June of 1966 the family moved to Cumberland, Wisconsin. Another child was born here completing their family. Here on the dairy farm they lived and loved and toiled for 33 years and also enjoyed playing games with his children and grandchildren.

In 1999 they moved to a small home in Almena, Wisconsin. They then served in Albuquerque as house parents and in Seymour, Wisconsin as missionaries. Dad also delivered meals on wheels for many years.

On July 1, 2014 Dad and Mom moved into Bethel Home at Montezuma, Kansas, where he received exceptional love and care.

Dad loved the church and her lineage and would enthusiastically share this vision with others. Now he has gone on before us to heaven and we want to meet him there.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Milly; eight children, Mary and Cris Friesen, Muleshoe, Texas, Lester and Pam Johnson, Cumberland, Wisconsin, Gilbert and Leah Johnson, Almena, Wisconsin, David and Marjorie Johnson, Kings Mountain, Kentucky, Joyce and Orlin Reimer, Leoville, Saskatchewan, Renetta and Warren Koehn, Almena, Wisconsin, Shirley and Steve Nightingale, Ulysses, Kansas, Rayanne Copp and son-in-law Ammer Copp, Iroquois, South Dakota; 28 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; and 6 step great grandchildren; two brothers, Chester and Mae Johnson and Richard Johnson; and three sisters, , Theda, Mrs. Harvey Dyck, Thelma, Mrs. Dewey Koehn, Roberta, Mrs. Delbert Nikkel; and one brother-in-law, Stanley and Joyce Koehn and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Funeral service will be held at Gospel Mennonite Church in Almena, Wisconsin on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Bethany Cemetery in Comstock, Wisconsin. Visitation will be at Bethel Home in Montezuma on Friday, September 15, 2017 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel - PO Box 421 - Montezuma, Kansas 67867. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.