Roger E. Johnson

Mass of Christian Burial for Roger E. Johnson, age 89, of Lincoln, formerly of Randolph, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Randolph. Reverend David Korth will be celebrant and Deacon Doug Tunink will assist, with burial in Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Cemetery.

Military honors will be provided by Alvin Kessler Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5545 and American Legion Post 113 of Randolph, and Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 2, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the church, with a Christian Wake Service at 6:00 p.m.

Home for Funerals - Randolph is in charge of arrangements.

Roger died Wednesday January 29, 2025, at his home in Lincoln.

Roger E. Johnson was born on August 22, 1935, in Martin, South Dakota, the son of Clarence and Evelyn (Shultz) Johnson. He attended grade school in Pine Ridge, SD, and a 1953 graduate of Tilden High School in Tilden, NE, he furthered his education at Wayne State Teachers College, Chadron State College, and Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. Roger was a 1959 graduate of Worsham’s College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL.

On June 9, 1956, Roger married Marian Agnes Kent at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Tilden. The couple lived in Tilden for a time before teaching school in King Lake. Roger was honorably discharged after serving in the South Dakota Army Air National Guard from June 14, 1957, to May 29, 1960, and was reverted to the Nebraska Army Air National Guard, from October 1, 1961, to May 29, 1963. His basic training took place at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and he served with the 24th Medical Company Air Ambulance in Fort Leonard Wood, and as a reservist in Wahoo, Nebraska, as a Senior Med Aidman.   

After graduating from mortuary college in 1959, Roger completed an apprenticeship at Higby Mortuary in Aurora, NE, before taking a position at Erickson-Hult Funeral Home in Wahoo. In 1965, Roger and Marian purchased the O’Neill Funeral Home and clothing store in Randolph, with assistance from his Aunt Millie and Uncle Aner Anderson. Roger operated the ambulance service, clothing store, and funeral home until the ambulance was turned over to the volunteer ambulance service in Randolph, and the clothing store was sold to Don Starzl. Roger operated the funeral home until his retirement in 2000, at which point it was sold to his son, Brad and daughter-in-law, Terri Johnson. Roger was a past member of both the National and Nebraska Funeral Directors Associations and was licensed for 60 years. Throughout his career, Roger worked on expanding his funeral home operations, which included Sultzer-Chittenden in Wisner, Hiscox in Wayne, and Johnson-Stonacek in Norfolk. 

In 1968, Roger was approached by community leaders regarding investment in and management of the newly built Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Randolph. He became a licensed Nebraska Nursing Home Administrator in 1971 until his retirement in 1997. He was a former member of both the National and Nebraska Nursing Home Administrators Associations, maintaining his license for 29 years.

Roger served, and in order to maintain local control in 1986, he played a crucial role in investing in, organizing, and purchasing the former Tri-County COOP in Randolph, now Randolph Farm Supply. Roger took great pride in collaborating with town and rural community leaders to transform Randolph Farm Supply into a leading agricultural partner in Northeast Nebraska. 

In 1986, the Randolph community called for their own golf course. Roger, along with several others, became Grand Benefactors and, together with other contributors, donated their treasure, time and talent to make the Randolph Community Golf Course a reality. Roger and Marian donated 28 acres and were later asked to sell the remainder of their rural property in Randolph to complete the project.

Roger and Marian traveled the world by air, visiting Sweden, England, Ireland, France, and Germany. They visited every state in the nation, except for Maine, by way of their “tilting Hilton” motorhome. Many winters traveling to Arizona and California. Roger had a keen eye for antiques and spent countless hours searching with Marian and his Aunt Vivian Leona for the right piece to fit into their lives. He also enjoyed training and raising Morgan/Percheron and purebred Percheron horses, as many as 20 head over the years, along with many horse pulled vehicles, horse drawn hearses, bob sleds and sleighs. Roger was an avid Husker football fan traveling to away and home games for several decades. 

One of his favorite pastimes involved golf, from playing the course outside his front door in Randolph to Half Moon Bay Golf Links in California. Roger and Marian volunteered as Golf Marshals at a Nike tour event for several years and as volunteer Golf Marshals at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the Monterey peninsula in California.

His memberships include St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lincoln, formerly St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Randolph. He is a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Council #5143 in Randolph and served as the Mayor of Randolph for three terms.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Marian Johnson of Lincoln; their seven children: Kathy Johnson and Michael Nicotero of Scribner; Joanie and Bill Gubbels of Randolph; Lorrie Johnson of Grand Junction, CO; Bradly and Terri Johnson of Omaha; Jackie Hammond of Grand Junction, CO; Annie Johnson and her significant other Matt Correa of Sutter Creek, CA; R. Eric and Jodi Johnson of Lincoln; nine grandchildren: Kyle, Casey, Jerad Gubbels; Austin and Ross Johnson; Heath Hammond and Megan Martel; Robert and Brock Johnson; two step-grandchildren, Emma and Hunter Meyers; 16 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Johnson of Huntington Beach, CA and Arthur and Jackie Johnson of Fremont, NE; two brothers-in-law, Jim and Cathy Kent of Norfolk and Robert and Jean Kent of Port Ludlow, WA; one sister-in-law, Katherine and John Beal of Longview, WA; and  several nieces, nephews, and host of friends.

Preceding him in death were a stillborn baby girl; his parents; one infant sister; one brother and his wife, Gary and Margie Johnson.

Funeral Service Information:

Funeral Services: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church – Randolph, NE

Date: Monday February 3, 2025 – 10:30 A.M.

Interment: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Cemetery – Randolph, NE

Military Rites:  Alvin Kessler V.F.W. Post #5545 and American Legion Post #113 of Randolph & United States National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation: SUNDAY February 2, 2025 - 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. with Christian Wake Service at 6 P.M.

Officiating: Reverend Father David Korth; Deacon Doug Tunink

Music: Guitarist/Cantor: George Bradley

Pallbearers: “Roger’s Grandchildren & Step-grandchildren” Grandchildren: Kyle Gubbels, Austin Johnson, Casey Gubbels, Ross Johnson, Heath Hammond, Robert Johnson, Jerad Gubbels, Brock Johnson, Megan Martel; Step-grandchildren: Emma, Hunter Meyers

Honorary Pallbearers: “Roger’s Great-grandchildren, Step-great-grandchildren, and Step-great-great Grandchild” Great-grandchildren: Boland, Bryder, Bronx, Brand Gubbels; Kylar, Rocco Johnson; Quinn, Blake Gubbels; Ember Johnson; Landon, Natalie, Gabriel Hammond; Kane, Payton, Baylor Gubbels; Tavian, Delilah Johnson; Javonte Johnson; Step-great-grandchildren: Ethan, Chris and Dylan Estep; Emily Lubberstedt; Step-great-great-grandchild: Jason Estep

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