Walter P. Johnson

Walter P. Johnson, 90, of Beatrice, died at Parkview Center in Beatrice on Thursday morning, August 21, 2008. He was born on January 23, 1918, east of Zion Lutheran Church at rural Pickrell.

He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran by Pastor J.B. Reents. He attended District 38 Country School. He was married to Angeline Fritzen on September 28, 1941, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of rural Beatrice, and they lived on a farm east of Zion Lutheran Church most of their life, moving to Beatrice in 1985. He served in the United States Army during World War II in the Medical Corps in Africa, and in the invasion of Italy at Salerno and Naples. He was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell, where he served on several committees, the church council, Lutheran Men in Mission and the Zion Cemetery Association. He was also a member of the Pickrell Elevator Board and District 38 School Board, both of Pickrell, Bitting-Norman Post 27 of the American Legion and Geddes-Thober Post 1077 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Beatrice. His greatest joys were his grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed going to the library to read, playing cards with family and friends and going on tours.

Survivors include his wife, Angeline of Beatrice; three daughters, Betty Daubendiek and husband Roger of Pickrell, Carol Keller of Hickman and Connie Thornburg and husband Kim of Pickrell; six grandchildren, Annette Daubendiek, Jill Nelson and husband Scott, Jessica Diekmann and husband Bill, Maggie Mayers and husband Will, Wade and Cassie Thornburg; and two great-grandchildren, Megan Nelson and Elijah Mayers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Heye and Hedwig Baehr Johnson; son-in-law, Roger Keller; sister, Marie Jurgens; two brothers, Willie and Henry Johnson; three brothers-in-law, Henry Jurgens, John L. Fritzen and Herman Williams; two sisters-in-law, Teda Johnson and Clara Fritzen.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 25, 2008, at the Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell with Pastor John Sievers officiating. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery of rural Pickrell. A memorial has been established to the Zion Lutheran Cemetery and the family's choice with Arnold Buhr and Albert Schuster in charge. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Monday in the basement of the church. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home, 19th and Garfield streets, Beatrice, until 9 p.m. Sunday and then at the church on Monday one hour preceding the services. Military graveside honors will be conducted by Bitting-Norman Post 27 of the American Legion of Beatrice. A guest book for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at http://www.foxfuneralhome.net">http://www.foxfuneralhome.net . Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice in charge of arrangements.

(Paid)