Roger J Johnson

Roger Johnson, 87 of Humboldt, passed away at his home on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Burial will take place at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Humboldt with Military Honors conducted by Sathers Odgaard VFW Post #5240. Visitation will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Friday January 2, 2026 starting at 9:30 AM until the time of the service. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Humboldt. Online condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.
Roger was born in Lu Verne, Iowa at the home of J.H. and Pauline (Miller) Johnson on November 21, 1938. He joined a brother Mervyn James. Another brother, Roland Dale was born October 9, 1943. The family moved to Humboldt in 1944 where J.H. continued in the trucking business and Pauline was a stay-at-home mom. Roger attended the Humboldt Public Schools until they moved to Durango, CO in 1954. During the time Roger lived in Durango, he and 3 other friends went to Puyallup, WA during the summer. Roger and one friend earned money by picking strawberries. He learned to not eat so many as payment was by the filled box. He and his buddy hitchhiked back to Durango in 48 hours and 49 different rides.
The family returned to Iowa, settling in Fort Dodge, where Roger attended Fort Dodge Senior High. He joined the National Guard in 1957 then was drafted in 1958. He spent 18 months in Munich and Nurnberg, Germany and was honorably discharged in 1960. He returned to Humboldt to live with his brother Mervyn and family.
Roger met Marlys Kirchhof during the summer of 1960. They married later that year on December 11. In 1964, they welcomed their son Ryan. In 1966, they welcomed their daughter Stacy. In 1970 the family built a home and moved to an acreage east of Humboldt where they still lived. In 1972 they welcomed their daughter Katherine. Roger was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church serving as an elder for several years. Roger and Marlys also spent many fun times bowling in a mixed doubles league at Sundance Lanes in Humboldt.
Roger was on over the road truck driver (owning his own truck) for many years until 1988. His last employer was John's Ag Service in Humboldt, still driving semi every day and retiring in 2019.
In retirement Roger had his 1955 Chevrolet BelAir completely restored and enjoyed driving it for a few years. He enjoyed watching TV and doing crossword and word search puzzles. He also enjoyed reading magazines and papers.
Roger is survived by his wife Marlys and their three children: Ryan (Amber) Johnson, Stacy (Joe) Laslo and Katherine Godfrey. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Nicholas (Noelle) Schuler, Amber (William) McNally and Greyson Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law and his great grandson Sebastian Schuler.