Obituary of Lavern Johnson

Lavern Alph "Swede" Johnson, 84, of Wadsworth, Illinois, died on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Terrace Nursing Home in Waukegan, Illinois. He was born January 1, 1926 in Shaller, Iowa. Following high school in Shaller he joined the Army-Air Force during World War II and served in Italy as a tail gunner on a B-17. He later did undergraduate work at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and completed dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. After a brief stay in Golden, Colorado, he took up residence in Sacramento, California where he opened a branch dental office in San Bernadino, operating there for 23 years. While in San Bernadino, he met and married the late Thelma G. MacArthur. Lavern retired to his beach house in Laguna Beach, California before moving to Illinois to be with his son and daughter-in-law and grandsons. Survivors include his son, James (Lori) Johnson of Wadsworth, Illinois; two grandchildren, Jimmie and Ian Johnson; and one brother, Glenn Robert (Jan) Johnson of Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma in April of 1996; three brothers, Oliver, Arvid and Gustav; and his parents, August and Anna Johnson. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the CONGDON FUNERAL HOME, 3012 Sheridan Road, Zion, Rev. Jeffrey Koth officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the Congdon Funeral Home. Memorial donations to American Heart Association have been suggested.