Ralph L. Johnson

Ralph L. Johnson, 88, of Forest City, died Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M, December 20, 2017 at Calvary Baptist Church, 636 N. Best Street, Forest City, Iowa with Pastor Doug Farrell, Rev. Todd Abbey and Rev. David Abbey officiating.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City, Iowa.

Burial will be held at Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or the Calvary Baptist Church special fund.

Ralph LaVoy Johnson was born in Thompson, Iowa, December 23, 1928 to parents Carl and Leila Johnson. The oldest of four siblings, Ralph grew up in Madison Township and attended school in Hayfield and Forest City. After graduating, Ralph began farming and lived out that passion for over 65 years. Ralph and Sheryl (Pitkin) were united in marriage on August 31, 1951 and enjoyed 66 years together. They were blessed with three children. Ralph enjoyed farming, collecting tractors, his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and being an active member of his church.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Sheryl; children, Laurel (Andrew) Mayberry of Savage, MN, and Greg Johnson (Connie Forbes) of Forest City; grandchildren Jen (Ben) Jaeger of Mapleton, MN, Melissa (Del) Peterson of Moorhead, MN, Tyler Johnson of Pomona, CA, and Courtney (Keaton) Schauermann of Forest City; and nine great grandchildren; sister, Margaret (David) Abbey of Greeneville, TN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bradley Robb Johnson; siblings, Harvey Johnson and Lyle Johnson.