Duane Leo Johnson

March 13, 1935 - January 14, 2022

Duane Leo Johnson, 86, of Badger, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, at UnityPoint Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge. Services will be 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School with Rev. Kendall Meyer officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Dodge. The Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements. Duane Leo Johnson, the son of Arthur and Charlotte (Hovick) Johnson, was born March 13, 1935, on his parent's farm near Thor, Iowa. Duane graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1953 and then attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Duane enlisted into the United States Navy and served for 2 years. After his honorable discharge Duane moved back to Fort Dodge. He was united in marriage to Gladys Licht on May 4, 1958. They made Fort Dodge their home initially, then moved to an acreage near Moorland, where Duane continued his life of humble servitude as a Boy Scout Leader for a short time. Duane and Gladys then moved to the century old family farm near Badger, where they worked hard to provide an amazing country life for their family for almost 40 years. They moved to Bickford Senior Living in Fort Dodge in November with the intention of moving back to the farm this spring, where dad could sit on the deck and bask in the glory of the farm, which he so loved. During his long and varied professional life, Duane was employed by Gus Glaser Meats, Levien Chevrolet, Essinger Electric, Iowa Medical Supply, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Art Delp Auto, and Coachlight Condominiums, in addition to farming the Johnson family farm for over 30 years before retiring from farming as well. Even while working at all these professions, he continued to enjoy his passion for overhauling and repairing things, and finding new uses for old things of which he had many lying around! He could fix anything he set his mind to, and many people in the Fort Dodge area enjoyed the benefits of his generous nature when he would repair anything from plumbing to electrical to structural issues in their home. He blessed St. Paul Lutheran Church and School for many years with his work as head of the Properties committee helping maintain the church building. His children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of enjoying his unique motor inventions - go-carts, motor bikes, and a mini tractor, to name a few. (A few people in the Fort Dodge area may remember seeing his mini John Deere tractor appearing in the Frontier Days Parade for many years.) Duane is survived by his wife, Gladys; their three children, Laurie (Bill) Miller of Winterset, Iowa, Jeff (Rhonda) Johnson of Story City, Iowa and Diane (Doug) Martin of Fort Dodge; nine grandchildren: Rachel (Jes) Behrens; Kristin (Adam) Dunphy, Jenn (Tyler) Belling; Tanner, Teagan, Tessa and Tayte Johnson; Nick Shaw and Tristan Shaw: five great grandchildren; Farrah, Brody, Colt, Jaxon and Bowen. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Ardis Larson. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be left to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School.