Donald R. Johnson

Donald Richard “Don” Johnson, 86, of Des Moines, passed away Monday, February 26, 2018, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born September 28, 1931, to Edwin and Margaret (Fredregill) Johnson. He attended East High School in Des Moines, graduating in 1950. On September 28, 1951, he was united in marriage to Shirley Fay Sandberg, of Des Moines. To them were born three children, Shelley, Richard and Jeffrey.

After graduation, he served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War (1952-1953) in Okinawa. He spent most of his 40-year working life employed as a dairyman and retired from Roberts Dairy in 1994.

He loved to participate in Christmas home lighting contests and took first place several times. He was a very talented artist and enjoyed working with his hands, painting and wood carving. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. He enjoyed spending his summers at the family cabin in Minnesota, bird watching, and working on numerous projects around the cabin. He loved the Iowa State Fair and annual Fredregill family reunions. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughter, Shelley (Jeffrey) Lewis; granddaughters, Emily (Ben) Pettitt and Leah (Josh) Holcomb; great-grandchildren, Tyler Johnson, Aubrey, Graham and Miles Holcomb, and Tate and Hayden Pettitt; brother, Theodore D. Johnson; three step-grandsons, Dennis, Daniel and Devin Hansen; two nieces, Sue and Maggie; and nephew, Robert.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley (Sandberg) Johnson; parents, Edwin and Margaret (Fredregill) Johnson; father- and mother-in-law, Carl S. and Ida May Sandberg; sons, Richard and Jeffrey Johnson; sisters, Lavona, Louise, Florence and Ellen Marie; brothers, Raymond and James Ivan; grandson, Sean (Johnson) El-Hout; granddaughter, Shannon (Johnson) El-Hout; and nephew, Raymond.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 5, 2018, also at Hamilton’s, and will conclude with burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Post #738 on Dean Avenue, Des Moines or to the East High Alumni Association, Class of 1950.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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