Rodney Russel Johannsen

Rodney Russel Johannsen was proud to serve his country as a young man, was a second-generation farmer near Teeds Grove, and enjoyed and dearly loved his family. At the age of 84, Rodney passed into Heaven on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Mercy Medical Center, Clinton, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the Miles Presbyterian Church with Reverend Teresa Bartlett officiating. Burial will be in Teeds Grove Cemetery with Full Military Rites by the Miles Legion. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Preston, Iowa. Memorials may be given in Rodney’s honor for the Quad Cities Honor Flight.
Rodney was born, May 2, 1930, the son of George J. and Malinda K. Johannsen. He grew up with two sisters, Iota and Leola. He attended Elk River Township and Miles Community School. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Miles, Iowa. He held offices within the Church as a teacher, Sunday School superintendent, and was an ordained Elder.
Rodney was a member of the U.S. Air Force from August 31, 1951 to August 30, 1955. He returned home to take over farming operations with his father. In 1954 he married Lois C. Driver of Clinton, Iowa. Together they raised 5 children and celebrated 60 years of marriage. Rodney was a life-time member of the American Legion and was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Miles, Iowa for over 50 years.
He was an Elk River Township Trustee for 20 years and was a member of the Andover Volunteer Fire Dept. for 17 years. He worked for Clinton County as Soil Commissioner and in 1982 he and his wife moved to Tama, Iowa after being promoted to Director of the Tama County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service. He was appointed to the City board of adjustments and County compensation board by the Tama County Supervisors.He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and was a member of Farm Bureau in both Clinton and Tama counties.
Rodney enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards with different clubs, coin collecting with the Grinnel Coin Club, being Market Master of the Tama Farmers Market, and gambling trips with his wife to casinos around the midwest. After 27 years in Tama he and his wife Lois moved back to the Clinton area to be closer to the home farm. One of the last crowning achievements for Rodney was making the Quad Cities Honor Flight to Washington DC. He was grateful for that opportunity.
Rodney is survived by his wife, Lois of Clinton; his sister, 5 children, Pamela (David) Moore of League City, Texas, Robert Johannsen of Corpus Christi, Texas, Gail (Richard) Lohmann of Rochester, Minnesota, Sharon (Gabbi) Johannsen of Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Richard (Kristi) Johannsen of Teeds Grove, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, Angela Bersaw, Jonathan Lohmann, Adam Johannsen, Ashley Johannsen and Samuel Moore; 5 great grandchildren, Riley, Carter, Emily, Dylan and Kaleeyah; and a sister, Leola Behrens of Clinton, Iowa. He was preceded in death by both parents and his sister, Iota Behrens.