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Willis E. Johnson, 87

Willis E. Johnson, 87, of Norfolk, formerly of Wayne, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in Norfolk.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Hasemann Funeral Home in Wayne with the family present.

Willis E. Johnson was born Nov. 16, 1925, on the family farm near Wakefield, to Andrew and Clara (Lilje) Johnson.

He was baptized Dec. 13, 1925, and confirmed May 21, 1939, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wakefield.

He attended country schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1943.

On Jan. 9, 1949, he married Donna Sorensen at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne.

The couple farmed until 1952. He was the State Farm Insurance agent in Wayne from 1956 until 1988. They retired to Bella Vista, Ark., and in October of 2001, moved to a warmer climate, Siesta Village in Weslaco, Texas. In 2005, they moved back to Nebraska to be close to their children.

He attended Faith Lutheran Church in Bella Vista, Ark., for 14 years and served on the church board, was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne and then in Norfolk.

He recently entered The Golden Living Center in Norfolk.

Mr. Johnson enjoyed woodworking, fishing, golfing, doing puzzles, traveling and having fun parties with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters: Virginia (Gary) Kirch of Blair, Vivian Fox (Bob Blaser) of Norfolk and Peggy (Charles) Menke of Norfolk; son David (Ann) Johnson of Norfolk; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Derold (Irene) Johnson of Omaha; sister-in-law Dorothy Johnson of Wayne; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert and Melvin Johnson; and sister Leora (Warren) Austin.

Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Hour.