John Meinert Johnson, 84, of Basco, passed away at 4:15 PM on Friday, February 14, 2020, at his home in Basco.

John M. was born November 16, 1935, the son of Jurgen and Florence (Huls) Johnson in Basco.  In 1966 he was united in marriage to Myrna Rampley in Wayne City, Illinois. He was a life-long farmer and a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church near Basco.  He enjoyed farming and gardening with his wife of 50 years. He enjoyed watching his girls play softball and going on Sunday drives with his family looking at crops and listening to the St. Louis Cardinal games on the radio.  He and Myrna would play shuffleboard tournaments at Hancock County taverns on Sunday afternoons where they often took 1st place.  He also liked playing Pitch with his friends in Basco.  John M. was a quiet and a man of few words but when he did speak people listened.

John M. is survived by his wife, Myrna, of Basco; two daughters, Kathy (James) Manley of Middletown, Iowa and Pamela Johnson of Basco; a grandson, Zachary Manley; one brother, Michael (Virginia) Johnson of Basco; and a sister, Darlene (Neil) Pfeifferling of Hamilton; and several nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. with burial to follow in Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery near Basco.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. Monday evening with family meeting friends from 5:00 – 7:00. Memorials may be directed to Lee County Hospice or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.