Rodney D. Johnson

Rodney D. Johnson, 62, of Clarion died Sunday, December 14, 2008 at the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada following a courageous three-year battle with cancer.

Funeral services for Rodney Johnson will be held Monday, December 22, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion with Pastor Gary Boen officiating.  Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at North Lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 21, 2008 from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Rodney, the son of Dale and Wilma (McNabb) Johnson, was born November 28, 1946 in Kingsley, Iowa near Sioux City.  He was raised in this area where he attended school, graduating from Woodbury Central High School in Moville, Iowa in 1965.  Rodney served in the United States Air Force for four years; following his honorable discharge he attended Westmar College in Le Mars; graduating four years later. 

Rodney was manager of the Radio Shack in Sioux City and then Radio Shack in Fort Dodge until 1979.   He began working at the Fort Dodge Post Office as a mail carrier and then as a supervisor.  He was Assistant to the Postmaster in Iowa Falls until 1992 when he became Postmaster in Clarion until his retirement in 2006.

Rodney was united in marriage with Karen (Onken) Blankenship on July 4, 1998 in Duncombe, Iowa.  The couple made their home in Clarion.

He loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, gardening and anything out of doors. 

Rodney was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Clarion and the VFW.  He served on the Clarion Development Committee for a few years until becoming ill in 2005.

Rodney is survived by his wife Karen (Blankenship) Johnson of Clarion; his mother Wilma Johnson of Ventura, California; three children: Jillena (Bruce) Miller of Sioux City, Michael Johnson of Port Orchard, Washington, Melissa (Eric) Bribiesca of San Diego, California; two step-children: Jana Ewing (Shawn) of Fort Dodge, Tim (Teresa) Blankenship of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren; two sisters: Sue (Larry) Hogue and Marcy (Corby) Stinnett; two brothers: Dan (Beccy) Johnson and Martin (Sherry) Johnson, numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his father and son, Rodney, Jr. in 1986.