Jack Johnson

Jack Robert Johnson, 78, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Heritage House Assisted Living in Atlantic.

Jack was born on February 10, 1943, in Elk Horn, Iowa, the son of Robert Earl and Margie Alvina (Gregersen) Johnson. His family moved to Atlantic when he was 2 years old and he attended Atlantic Community Schools. In high school he was selected to all-conference teams in basketball and football. A close-knit bond with three of his buddies — Jack Barringer, Tim Thatcher and the late, Darrell Will — led to life-long friendships; they called themselves “The Four Quads.” Jack graduated with the Class of 1961.

On July 14, 1963, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Marie Walter at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. The couple was blessed with two sons, Craig and Brad.

Jack drove truck for Western Iowa Gas and MoorMan’s Feed, before purchasing Gasoline Alley in 1978. Gas Alley was a staple in Atlantic for decades at the corner of 2nd and Poplar, and at the time Jack purchased it it was one of few full-service stations around. He took pride in serving his customers, not only at the station but also making calls to homes, fields — anywhere he was needed to get them back up and running. There was no doubt when you pulled up to the pump that you would be greeted with a smile by Jack, shop rag in his back pocket and a hat with the brim curved just so. (He was never comfortable without a hat.) In 1988, it broke his heart to close the station due to new environmental laws that would be implemented in the coming months. Jack next worked at McAtee Tire for a short time before taking a position driving truck for Henningsen Construction’s Asphalt Paving Division in 1995; he retired in 2007.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Elk’s Lodge #445, and volunteered for the Atlantic Fire Department for 10 years. He was a member at Nishna Hills Golf Course and looked forward to Friday night men’s league — his sons maybe did a little, too, because a good night at the poker table after golf would mean a little spending money for them on the kitchen table the next morning.

Jack loved the outdoors, from fishing to mowing grass to clearing snow off the driveway. He never complained about having a chore and loved to tinker at his garage workbench. He knew all the best farm ponds to fish from all his years delivering animal feed and bulk fuel. He was proud to have taught his sons to cast a line in family vacations to Okoboji and fishing trips to Canada. In later years, he let his granddaughters in on the fun when they’d visit him at his camper.

Jack will be remembered by his family as hardworking, honest and outgoing; he always enjoyed a good party and being a friend to all. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Johnson of Atlantic; sons, Craig (Hope) of Clive, Iowa, and Brad (Stephanie) of Simpsonville, South Carolina; two granddaughters; sister, Jean Mezo of Mount Vernon, Washington; and numerous extended family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Margie Johnson; brother-in-law, John Mezo; and nephew, Randy Manke.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 15, 2022, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held in the Brighton Township Cemetery, near Marne.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Jack’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.