Howard V. Johnston

Howard V. Johnston 1926 ~ 2011 Howard V. Johnston, 84, passed away on July 12, 2011, after a long illness. He had been cared for at home by his loving wife of 58 years, Maxine. Howard was born on October 23, 1926 in Runnels, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after he turned 18, and throughout more than 20 years of military service he was stationed in Germany, France, Korea, Japan, the Philippine Islands, and various posts in the United States. He also taught ROTC at Boise High school and served as an instructor in the military department at the University of Nevada. Among the many awards Howard received for his service are the combat infantry badge and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. He retired from the Army as a Master Sergeant in 1966 and continued to work for the federal government until 1985. Howard loved the outdoors and spent much of his time hunting, fishing, or working in his yard and vegetable garden. He was always willing to share his bounty with friends and neighbors, and he passed on both his love of nature and his strong work ethic to his children. He was also a talented carpenter, serving on the building committee at Immanuel Lutheran Church for 30 years and creating many treasured gifts for his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Maxine; daughter Pat Phelps, Boise; daughter Pam Johnston and son-in-law Michael Lueker, Universal City, Texas; son David Johnston and daughter-in-law Kathy Johnston, Boise; and grandchildren Sarah (Josh), Jared, Elise, Ali, Amber, Jordan, Andrew, and Cade. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Debra Johnston. A celebration of Howard's life will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Boise at 10 a.m. on July 16. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to the building committee at Immanuel. His family would like to thank the staff of Legacy Hospice for their support, respect, and the loving care that allowed him to stay at home throughout his illness.