Arthur "Art" Johnson

Arthur R. Johnson, 95, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, March 3, 2025 at Rest Well Home Plus in Oskaloosa. He was born August 18,1929 in Council Grove, KS, the son of Leonard Ben and Esther Neal Johnson of rural Alta Vista, KS.
Art grew up on the family farm southeast of Alta Vista. He attended the Biglin Rural grade school and was a 1947 graduate of Alta Vista High School. He was active in sports and 4-H and served as president of his senior class. Sometime during high school, Art began dating Betty Zimmerman. Although Art and Betty wanted to get married right after high school, they honored a promise to Betty's mother to wait until they were 21 years old. They were married on November 22,1950 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alta Vista. They would celebrate 75 years of marriage this year.
After High School, both Art and Betty taught in one-room rural schools. Art taught at Wabaunsee, Biglin and Garfield rural schools and at St. John's Ltheran School in Alma. While teaching, Art also served in the U.S. Army Reserves and in 1951 was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as a Staff Sargent. Following his Army service, Art enrolled in Kansas State University while helping his father farm in Alta Vista. He earned a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1958. During this time, his children, Cathy and Kirk were born.
Following graduation, he began a long and distinguished career as an Agricultural Extension Agent. He served in Ford and Shawnee counties before becoming the Director of Extension Services in Jefferson
County in 1960. He retired in 1999 after 40 years of Service. During his tenure he strove to bring innovative methods to farmers and ranchers as well as to the county 4-H program. He was honored with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award by the National Association of Agricultural Extension Agents for his contributions to agriculture and for his work with 4-H programs. He also served as president of the Kansas Agricultural Extension Association. Art was awarded prizes for his weekly newspaper column he wrote for the Oskaloosa Independent and Valley Falls Vindicator.
Art was an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Nortonville. He served in a variety of capacities including Congregational President and Elder and was a long-time Sunday School teacher for the youth. He was also involved in the Oskaloosa community serving on the Tree Board, the Oskaloosa Senior Housing Board and a member of American Legion Post #36. He led the effort to construct the Veteran's Memorial Park in Oskaloosa.
He is survived by his wife Betty of the home and children, Cathy (Rick) Garren, Oskaloosa, and Kirk (Cheryl) Johnson, Topeka, grandchildren, Brady (Megan) Garren, Ryan (Amanda) Garren, Katie (David) Himpel, Kristy (Bill) Kabus, Kyle (Bethany) Johnson, Craig Johnson (fiancé, Kathryn Unruh), and Mark (Emilie) Johnson, and great-grandchildren, Jack, Jordi, Keira and Carter Garren, Billy and Abby Kabus, Paisley and Nolan Himpel, Luke, Matthew, Maisy, Claire, Millie and Annalise Johnson, his brother-in-law, Victor Zimmerman and three nieces and six nephews. He was preceded by his parents, and siblings, Mary Kathryn Thowe, Ben Johnson and Helen Grensing.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 8, 2025 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Nortonville. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:00 AM before Services. Burial will be at 3:00 PM Saturday at Pleasant View Cemetery, Oskaloosa. Memorials suggested to Jefferson County 4-H Foundation or to St. Matthew Lutheran Church.