Obituary of Charles Johnson

Charles Glenn Johnson age 91 passed away December 10, 2009 at the Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo, Colorado. He was born Aug. 11, 1918 to Henry Charles Johnson and Pearl Glenn (Schell) Johnson on their homestead in southern Lincoln County Colorado. He had one sister Helen. Three months after Glenn’s birth, his father passed away in the flu epidemic of 1918. Pearl with her two small children returned to her family in Plains, Kansas. There she taught school in a one room schoolhouse and took her children horseback with her each day. Glenn was noted for being a quiet man and he always laughed and said that he learned to be quiet because he was placed on a quilt on the floor, in the corner of the schoolroom and told to be quiet! This also gave him a love for books and learning. In 1925 Pearl married Phillip Schonlau. In 1934 Phillip was killed in a farming accident. At this time Glenn had to drop out of school to operate the family farm and provide for his mother and sister. On April 14, 1940 Glenn married Eunice Gowens. To this union two daughters were born Charlotte Jean and Judy Ann. Glenn and Eunice continued farming in Kansas and Pearl moved back to the Colorado she loved. Glenn’s love for family was first and foremost. Listening to Charlotte play the piano and accordion gave him great joy. Judy tagged along outside learning to be “the best hired man he ever had”. The decision to move to Haviland, KS for the girls to go to Friends Academy for a Christian education was a big sacrifice. Renting the farm, the family moved there for 8 years. In 1962 Glenn and Eunice purchased farm and ranch land near the original homestead in Colorado and remained there until 1980 when they retired and moved to Hugo where they reside today. Glenn had a clear bass voice winning awards in school contests. He sang in quartets and choirs as well as duets with Eunice. He taught Sunday school and was on three church boards. Glenn and Eunice were raised with a love for God. They lived their life with this love toward others. Glenn was a generous man and led building projects from parsonages to roads. Just to mention some of his community activities, he was township trustee, sat on Co-Op boards, Farm Bureau boards, Grange and Lions Club. Glenn had a love for animals, especially horses. It started with driving teams and racing horses in Kansas. He loved his livestock and they were always fed first! When his grandchildren came to visit he always found time to stop and read stories, ride horses and play games. These memories will forever remain. Glenn’s father, mother and sister preceded him in death. His father and mother both died on Thanksgiving Day 65 years apart! He is survived by his wife and partner of 69 years, Eunice. Daughter Charlotte (Gary) Sneed of Cedar Point, KS, grandchildren Bradley (Dena) Sneed; Kristin (Tommy) Howland. Daughter Judy (Gene) Vick of Hugo, CO, grandchildren Loreen (Ted) Hughes; Sherry Kyle. Three Step grandchildren Leon (Taleen) Vick; Tony (Stacy) Vick; Kelby Vick; 8 great grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; as well as nieces and nephews.