Richard Charles Johnson, 81, of Springfield, Mo, was born on October 7, 1928 in St. Clair County, Mo. He passed away on December 16, 2009 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Richard grew up on a farm and was the youngest of six children. After high school he moved to Kansas City and met Martha. Before they were married he served in the Naval Reserve where he was stationed in Panama.
Richard worked as a butcher at the family grocery store and then worked at Sears Roebuck. Richard then began a 30 year career at General Motors in Kansas City, Ks. He retired from General Motors in 1978 and moved to Osceola where he and Martha enjoyed 29 years of wonderful retirement, doing exactly what he loved to do, fish, hunt and stomp around in the woods, tending a large garden, observing and appreciating the outdoors and wildlife. Their retirement home was abundant with turkey and deer. After Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, Richard and Martha decided to sell their home and acreage and moved closer to Cindi and John in Marshfield in 2007. Within a year they needed to move into a retirement facility. Martha cared for Richard at home as long as possible, with the help of home health aides, but as his condition deteriorated, it was necessary to move him to a skilled nursing facility. Martha insisted on staying in an apartment on the same grounds so she could spend time and visit with him daily. Richard was a resident of the Manor at Elfindale in Springfield until his passing.
Richard was a member of the United Bow Hunters of Missouri for 21 years holding three offices including vice president and treasurer. He was instrumental in the organization of the auction every year and participated in the youth education of traditional bow hunting. In 1994 Richard was voted Bow Hunter of the Year in 1994 and was on the cover of several magazines. Richard was also a member of the national organization PBS and a charter member of Compton Traditional for 10 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Leonard.
He is survived by his of 61 years, Martha (nee Millam) of Springfield, daughter Linda Leslie of Parkville, Mo, daughter Cindi and son-in-law John Elli of Marshfield, Mo, grandson Ryan Bieberly of Kansas City and great grandson Quinn Bieberly of Kansas City; surviving siblings include two sisters; Kathryn Evans of Independence, Mo and Elizabeth Fish of Fallbrook, Ca, two brothers; Leslie Johnson of Overland Park, Ks and Frederick and wife Mille Johnson of Marshfield, Mo
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