MORTON - Albert E. "Gene" Johnson, 91, of Morton, passed away Tues., Nov. 27, 2018, at Aperion Care Morton Villa.
Gene was born March 11, 1927, in Marion, Ind., to Verlin and Dorothy (Brumfield) Johnson. He married Mary Jo Menefee on May 12, 1956 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. She preceded him in death on July 3, 2014. He was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Surviving are two sons, Mark (Kim) Johnson of Morton and Kevin (Donna) Johnson of Washington; and two daughters, Gayle (Steve) Hough of Morton and Stacey (Wes) Blumenshine of Washington. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Ryan (Katie) Johnson, Sara (Greg) Roth, Anna Johnson, Kayleigh (Zach) Holthaus, Camron (Amber) Johnson, Megan (Brad) Armintrout, Marissa Hough, Molly Hough, Wade (Jenn) Blumenshine, Paige Blumenshine, and Drew Blumenshine; and four great-grandchildren, Will and Grant Johnson, and Nora and Tanner Roth.
Gene was an outstanding basketball player at his high school in Hartford City, Ind. He later attended Indiana University on a basketball scholarship. During his sophomore year in college, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in the radio signal corps in North Africa. After his discharge from service, he graduated from Ball State University with a degree in finance. Gene went to work for International Harvester Credit Corporation and retired from Navistar Financial Corporation in 1989 as a district manager.
He was an avid supporter of the Chicago Cubs, Indiana University basketball, and any event that his grandchildren participated in.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10:45 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton. A memorial Mass will follow at 11 a.m., with Msgr. Gerald T. Ward officiating. Burial of cremated remains will take place at a later date at Hirstein Cemetery in Morton.
Gene enjoyed reading books and frequently visited the Morton Library. One of his joys in life was his trip on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with his daughter, Gayle.
Memorials may be made to the Morton Public Library, or to the Greater Peoria Honor Flight.
Visitation
DEC 1. 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM (CST)
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
1020 S. First
Morton, IL
Mass
DEC 1. 11:00 AM (CST)
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
1020 S. First
Morton, IL