ROBERT LOUIS JOHNSON

ROBERT L. JOHNSON

Services for Robert L. Johnson, 54, of 2731 Vine St., West Des Moines, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Westover Funeral Home, with burial in Resthaven Cemetery.
   Mr. . Johnson died Saturday at Mercy Hospital of complications following heart surgery. He had been ill for three weeks.
   Born in Clear Lake, Mr. Johnson lived in Mason City before moving to Des Moines in 1958. He was an assistant district manager with the Standard Oil Division of Amoco Oil Co..
   He was a member of the El Kahir Shrine of Cedar Rapids, the Harding Masonic Lodge of Mason City, the Royal Arch Masons and the West Des Moines United Methodist Church.
   Survivors include his wife, Lois; three sons, Randy of Des Moines, Dean of Ankeny and Terry of Jamestown, N.D.; three brothers, Harlon of Mason City, Don of Omaha, Neb., and Leland of Alexandria, S.D.; four sisters, Mrs. Margret Payne of Mason City, Mrs. Mildred Needham of Emmetsburg, Mrs. Carol Ryan of Chicago, IL., and Mrs. Virginia Fanselow of Dows, and four grandchildren.
  . In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be accepted for donation to a charity of the Johnson family's choice.

 [Des Moines Tribune, Des Moines, IA, 23 Feb 1976, Mon. Page 12]

[courtesy of "Katie Lou"]

Grave marker and inset for Robert L. Johnson in Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines (Polk county), Iowa.  Note the parachutist badge, seen more clearly in the inset)

Robert registered for the draft in Mason City, IA on 16 February 1942 and was inducted into the Army on 14 June 1942.  Note that he was already working for Standard Oil Company.

Pvt Roberts was transferred from the 507th PIR to Hq Hq Co, 508th PIR as a member of the cadre team on 16 October 1942.

T/5 Roberts went through jump school (again) with the regiment and was declared a qualified parachutist on 5 March 1943.Comduct Medal.

MSgt Johnson was awarded a Good Conduct Medal on 25 July 1943..

On 13/ May 1945 Robert accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.