Gerald Edwin Johnson

Gerald Edwin Johnson, 85, of Basco, passed away at 1:14 A.M. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at The Arbors at Adams Pointe Care Center in Quincy.

Gerald was the second son born to George and Anna Marie (Schmidt) Johnson near Basco, Illinois on April 12, 1933. His siblings were Loren, Joann, Loralou, Judy, Marlys and Norman.  Loren, Joann and Gerald were delivered at home by Dr Stove.  Gerald attended the Apple Grove School near the home of Virgil West. He also attended school in Basco and later Warsaw High School.

 Gerald served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed near the 38th parallel in South Korea. His orders were to reestablish a Signal Corps unit that had been completely annihilated. The entire unit had been killed, or wounded when being overran by North Korean troops as they were retreating back to the North due to the offensive from the south.  The officer corps had been destroyed also. The unit had lost their stripes and colors.

 On February 28, 1959, he was united in marriage to Vivian Hildreth Meyersick at the Bethany United Church of Christ in Tioga.  She preceded him in death on April 7, 2010.  Gerald was a life-long farmer in the Basco area and a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church near Basco.

 Gerald was an excellent pool player, enjoyed ping-pong and enjoyed visiting with all people he met. Gerald started playing softball at age 19 and continued through age 45. Highlights include pitching and winning 3 complete games in one day. Charlie Stoneking was his catcher. Gerald believed Charlie was the most talented catcher he had played with, due to his God given physical abilities. Gerald also was asked and pitched for Farm Bureau in the over 40 tournament in Springfield, Illinois.  He pitched in the championship game and lost 1 -0.

Living near Basco with his neighbors and friends was an important part of Gerald’s life.   He valued his long-term relationships with his uncle Arnold (Smitty) and his dear friends Emile Vradenburg and Neil Pfeiferling.

Gerald is survived by three daughters, Geri (John) Bavery of Warsaw, Michele (Terry) Foreman of Montrose, Iowa, and Andrea Jones Boley (John Boley) of Basco; eight grandchildren, Jesse, Cole (Ade) and Luke (Brittany) Bavery, Joseph, Tyler (Justice Althide) and Benjamin Foreman, Shaleen Jones and Dylan Boley; one great granddaughter, Harper Bavery; a sister, Marlys Johnson of Carthage; four sisters-in-law, Sharon and Eleanor Johnson of Basco/Carthage; Janice (Roger) Turner of Hamilton , Connie Taylor of Wellington,Florida, two  brothers-in-law, Raymond Simmons of Golden, IL and Bill Meyersick of Peoria, IL; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Vivian in 2010; two brothers, Loren and Norman Johnson; three sisters, Joann (Dick) Bavery and Loralou (Bill) Dye and Judy Simmons.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M., October 8th, Monday morning at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with burial to follow in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery with military rites.  Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M.  Memorials may be directed to the Basco Community Center or the Bowen Clinic.  Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.

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