Memorial
Fred Johnson, Cedar Rapids, IA, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday March 6th. As Fred would say, “I simply wore out… but it was better than rusting out from inactivity”. A memorial service celebrating Fred’s life will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories on Wednesday, March 12th, with a visitation at 10:00a.m., and service at 11:00a.m.
Surviving Fred are his ex-wife Dee Ann Johnson, son Daniel Johnson, grand-daughter Kaya Johnson, and sisters Katherine (William, decd.) Gibson & Louise (Richard) Lang.
Fred was preceded in death by his son, William Johnson (infant); his parents, Cecil (Kenny) & Anita Johnson, and sister, Judy (Donald, also decd.) Stine.
Fred was born in Oelwein, IA, the oldest of four children, and grew up in Aurora, IA. He attended Parsons College, majoring in Business Administration. He then attended the University of Iowa graduating with degrees in Accounting & Marketing, where was a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity. Fred attained his Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) designation, and spent the balance of his working years in the fields of logistics, product support, inventory control, purchasing, and supply chain management, working at Dun & Bradstreet, and Target Corporation, among others.
Fred married his sweetheart Dee Ann Schwitters (daughter of Daniel & Lillian Schwitters) in 1965. The couple had the two extremely talented and handsome sons mentioned above, and eventually decided they had conquered the world – with nothing left to do together, they eventually divorced to take on solo roles in kicking b*tt and taking names in 2017.
Fred was a fifty-year Master Mason, and a Past Master of Manchester (IA) Lodge 165, AF&AM. He served the Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF&AM, both as a Masonic Instructor and as a District Lecturer. He was a 32nd Degree member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, and a Knight Templar member of the York Rite Bodies. During the years he lived in Des Moines, he was an active member of the Shriners Za-Ga-Zig Temple, a member of the Temple’s Walking Clown Unit, and an annual Shrine Circus participant. While living in Ames, he affiliated with Arcadia Lodge 249, AF&AM.
For over fifty years, Fred was a member of The Optimist Club of Cedar Rapids, and active in the club’s programs serving youth in the Cedar Rapids area. He was a Past President of the club and served several times on the clubs Board of Directors and the club’s dedicated foundation. He had also served The Iowa District Optimist International as a Lieutenant Governor and had chaired several of the Iowa District’s committees. He was the 1980-81 recipient of the Optimist International President’s Award. Fred became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ames, and was active in the club’s programs serving the youth of Ames and Story County, serving on the Board of Directors.
Fred loved cats, gardening, and giving his time to help others. He enjoyed supporting Cedar Rapids RoughRiders hockey, the Cedar Rapids Symphony (Orchestra Iowa), ISU Hockey Club, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, and the Fisher Theater. He was more of an ISU Cyclones fan than an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, but we won’t hold that against him. Fred will be truly missed.