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Obituary of Kenneth Marvin "Kenny" Johnson

Chillicothe - Kenneth Marvin “Kenny” Johnson, 76, of Chillicothe, formerly of Lawn Ridge, passed away on December 15, 2008, at his home.

He was born January 24, 1932 in Peoria, to Forrest and Edna Green Johnson of Peoria Heights.  Kenny married Martha Neis on August 28th, 1955 in Peoria. Martha survives, along with their six children; daughter Julie (Gary) Crull of Chillicothe, daughter Betsy (Joe) Wolfer of Leesburg, FL, son Paul Johnson of Plymouth, MN, son Joel (Tanya) Johnson of Huntley, son Jay (Margaret) Johnson of Naperville and son Brooks (Jennifer) Johnson of Nappanee, IN. Also surviving are their seventeen grand children; Jeremy, Jamie, and Jeff (Julie), Wendy, John, and Troy (Betsy), Nick, Melissa, and Nathan (Paul), Benjamin and Justin (Joel), Meghan, Lauren, Alison, and Bryan (Jay), Grant and Tate (Brooks). Also surviving are great-grandchildren Seth, Maddie, and Ryleigh (Jeremy).

Kenny attended Peoria Heights grade school where he was active in the Boy Scouts and initiated into the Order of the Arrow. He was a 1950 graduate of Woodruff High School where he lettered in band, cross country, and track. He also attended the University of Illinois.

He served in the US Army Signal Corp. from 1952-1954 mainly in Panama. He was honorably discharged in 1954.

Kenny farmed in Lawn Ridge until 1976. Throughout the years he was employed by Hemmer Feed and Allen Grain in Speer, German Implement in Princeville, and Du Mont Company in Peoria.

He served as Cub Master for the Edelstein Pack for several years. Kenny enjoyed biking with his friends on trails throughout the Midwest and twice rode RAGBRI. He was a season ticket holder for Illini Football for over 20 years and a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Kenny and his wife became aware of “clogging” in 1984 and have enjoyed wonderful times with the River Valley Cloggers.

He is a member of the Princeville Methodist Church and a Red Cross volunteer. He was a 50 year mason serving twice as Master of the Lawn Ridge Lodge #415. He is currently a member of the Princeville Lodge #360, Panama Consistory and ABOU SAAD Shrine in Panama.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2008, from 5 to 8:00 pm at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home in Princeville, with Masonic Rites to be accorded at 8:00. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday at Princeville United Methodist Church with Rev. Rex Hendrix officiating. A Private burial will be at the Lawn Ridge Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the American Stroke Association, 2524 Farragut Dr. Suite A, Springfield, IL 62704, or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

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