March 28, 2024

A proper send-off

Friends, family celebrate life of aviation legend at memorial service

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More than 100 people gathered in Newton to pay their respects to aviation legend Earl Johnson Wednesday.

Although the Illinois native is known around the county for his impact on the flight travel industry in central Iowa, many people who attended his funeral service honored him for so much more.

The Newton resident filled a variety of positions in aviation throughout his career — an aircraft dealer, charter pilot, corporate pilot, airport manager, flight instructor and pilot examiner, but several of his friends and family celebrated him for being a wonderful grandfather, caring friend and honorable member of the U.S. Navy.

The service began at 10:30 a.m. at Pence-Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Ave. E. As the guests walked into the chapel of the facility, they were greeted with a model airplane, bouquets of flowers and a variety of photos, Newton Daily News clippings and awards that featured Johnson at various points of his life.

“As children, we got to spend a lot of time with Grandpa Earl and Grandma Bert (who preceded Johnson in death Oct. 5, 2004). Of course planes and him taking us up in his plane is a favorite — how many kids could say that?” Pastor Ken Ahntholz read from a eulogy by one of Johnson’s grandchildren during the memorial service. “So many (great memories) — his laugh, his stories, his night flights over the courthouse at Christmas, martini olives, toothpicks, back scratches ... We also knew how special Grandpa Earl was.”

The funeral sermon, which was conducted by Johnson’s longtime pastor from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, highlighted several pleasant memories of the hometown legend.

“We spent a week or so in the summer at grandpa (Johnson) and grandma’s. It would give us country girls a taste of the city. He would wake up every morning and do his sit-ups,” Ahntholz read as he shared memory from another one of Johnson’s grandchildren. “We’d take the olives from his martinis and he would give us killer neck rubs. We are all better people for knowing this hero.”

From a three-volley salute by the American Legion Newton Post No. 111 to a special flag folding presentation by the Navy Honor Guard, the family said Johnson’s interment at Memorial Park Cemetery was a true send-off and tribute to the man they loved and admired.

At the burial, an audio recording of Johnson’s last flight was played. Shortly after, pilots who learned how to fly from the aviation legend took off from Newton Municipal Airport - Earl Johnson Field, which was renamed in his honor in 2015, and flew over the cemetery grounds. As the pilots passed, they said their names over the radio and shared how Johnson impacted their aviation career.

“Earl Johnson, as always the teacher and role model, passed down a culture,” Ethan Nasalroad, president of Midland Aircraft Sales and Services, Inc. said in an interview before the service. “In our business, Steve Valbracht and I feel we were able to purchase a company that had a proven track record and 60 years of experiences and standards learned by both Earl and Bill Smothers. Those experiences and the knowledge they gained and passed on are invaluable to us.”

Johnson passed away early Saturday morning in his home at Park Centre senior living community at the age of 91.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Roberta, great-great granddaughter Madison Nesbitt, sister Thelma Johnson May and brothers, Leland and Carl Johnson.

Johnson was survived by family members, including Ron Hotger, Constance Hotger Keig, Rhonda Hotger Barr, Beth Hotger McCarville, Ellen Hotger, Thomas Keig and Martina Keig Henderson, and his special friend, Evelyn Kuhns.

Pence-Reese Funeral Home is accepting memorials in Johnson’s name. They may be made for the Park Centre Good Samaritan Fund. For more information, call 641-792-5125.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@newtondailynews.com.