Leo Virgil Johnson Sr.

Leo (Virgil) Johnson, Sr., 81, Odell passed away Saturday, December 26, 2009 at his home. He was born October 15, 1928 in Beatrice, NE.  He attended Beatrice High School.  He moved to Oregon where he met and later married Winnie Williams on Jan 31, 1948.  He work in Oregon as a lumberjack working his way up to the number one job in the sawmill, he also worked as a feed truck driver for a feed mill and on a turkey farm before moving back to Beatrice where he worked for Bunny Bread-Old Home Bakery, Dole Floral Greenhouse.  The family moved to Odell where he worked at Leo's Tavern in Odell before working for Montgomery Wards, Country Lanes bowling alley, a short time at Bob's Tools then back for Country Lanes where he retired at the age of 75.  He was a Boy Scout Leader in Oregon and Odell, coached baseball, and was on the volunteer Fire Dept. in Odell Leo enjoyed sports and the outdoors, was an avid bowler, shot trap at the Beatrice Gun Club, throw horseshoes, gardening, hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Odell United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife Winnie of Odell, daughters, Ginny Christensen of Odell, April Abrams and husband Roy of Rural Wymore, NE, Melanie Jurgens and husband Nathan of Hastings, NE and Kelley Richardson and husband Matt of Hebron, NE; son, Leo Johnson, Jr. and fiancee Cindy Seger of Beatrice, NE; 8 grandchildren Karyn Fuser and husband Darrin of Shawnee, KS, David Whaley and fiancee Jana Reed of Odell, NE, Benjamin Hartwig and wife Heather of Colorado Springs, CO, Christina Jones and husband Jimmy of Fairbury, NE, Cody Seger and wife Leslieanna of Weeping Water, NE, Justin Seger of Loup City, NE, Emily (Johnson) Dorf and Elizabeth (Johnson) Dorf of Beatrice; 8 great grandchildren,  Natalie and Jackson Fuser of Shawnee, KS, Daileejo Whaley of Odell, Gabrielle Jones of Fairbury, Derek and Zack Hartwig of Colorado Springs, CO, Owen and Ryan Seger of Weeping Water, NE; nieces and nephews.   

He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Mary Elizabeth (Mather) Johnson; daughter, Kathleen Johnson (1968); granddaughter, Brianna Johnson (1993), son-in-law Neal Christensen (2003); brothers, Archie, Jerome, Kenneth and Forest; and sisters, Arminta and Zeal. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at the United Methodist Church, Odell, NE with Pastor Fay Hubbard officiating.  A family prayer service will be held at 10:45 AM at the church.  Burial will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery, Beatrice.  Visitation will be held at Harman-Wright Mortuary on Monday from 5PM-9PM, Tuesday 9AM-9PM with the family greeting friends from 6PM-8PM Tuesday evening and then on Wednesday one hour prior to services at the church.  Memorial established to the United Methodist Church Odell with the mortuary in charge.  A register book is also available online at www.harmanwrightmortuary.com for messages of condolence.  Harman-Wright Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

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