MALTA — Yngve  “Morry” Johnson, 99, of Malta, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.

Morry was proud to be a  Swede and was born June 5, 1924, in  Sweden, the son of Morris and Hildur (Collin) Johnson. His parents moved to the Sycamore area where they raised their twelve children. Yngve married Virginia Hanson on September 14, 1947.

Yngve was a Veteran of the US Army Having served during World War ll In the Pacific Front from April 3, 1944 to April 11, 1946. His basic training was in Fort Custer, Michigan and his Combat Engineer training in Fort Lewis, Washington.  He sailed on a Liberty ship from Fort Lewis to Enewetak Island then onto Okinawa Island where he drove a truck hauling rock to extend the existing runway so that damaged     B-29 Bombers returning from Japan could land rather than ditch in the ocean. After the war ended he was sent to Korea to help rebuild after the Japanese destruction from their invasion of Korea.

In 1954 Yngve and three other residents of Creston created the Creston Booster Club that is still in service today. He was a life time member and last surviving member. It was founded to support the school and community through profits from the yearly well-attended Creston Booster Days carnival and parade, as well as having  Bingo games at the Creston Booster Hall. He was also a life time member of the Rochelle VFW,  and a Rochelle High School Board Member for many years. 

One of his greatest joys was hunting, especially pheasants on the farm and deer in Wisconsin. When all the other hunters were done shooting with their 12 gauge shotguns he would raise up Winchester Pump 410 and drop the pheasant. 

He was also very proud that he spent 96 of his 99 years on the farm. As a young boy he started out walking behind a team of horses and he was overwhelmed when he got into a tractor that drove itself and automatically shut off the corn rows when he got to the end of the field.  He worked to grow and improve the community in so many ways all while doing the job he loved, farming.  

 He and his wife Virginia loved to travel. They traveled many places across the U.S. site-seeing or visiting family and friends. They took several trips to Sweden and Norway which they both enjoyed as they visited relatives in both countries. They were members of the Calvary Lutheran Church of Lee, for years, but with five children to take to confirmation they joined the Creston Lutheran church. Morry continued to attend the Creston church until his passing. 

Through his long life he touched so many lives, had so many  friends, and made an impact on so many people, as a role model.  He was kind & loving, always ready to help  out when needed.  Not only his family, but many people will miss his smiling face and good heart . It was dads quiet smile with that sparkle in his eyes and true love of family, especially extended gatherings that made others match his smile and love him instantly. He won the hearts of everyone that met him. 

He will be dearly missed by his children Yvonne (Joseph) Dickens of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Kevin Johnson of Malta, Illinois, Brent (Nelda) Johnson of Oregon, Illinois, and Brenda Niss of San Jose, California; his beloved grandchildren Erika Dickens,  Erin-Mikal (Leslie) Dickens, Blaine (Andrea) Peters, Melissa (Mickey) Branham, Nicole (Albeso) Galvan, and Joshua (Keri) Johnson, Tonya (Marty) Summers and Jason (Dana) VanVlerah; his great-grandchildren Sedonia and Joseph Dickens, Nathan, Ella and Nolan Peters, Michael, Elaysha and Daileon Branham, Nathaniel Galvan, Hanna, Cole and Jack Johnson, Alyssa and Carly Summers, Zachary White and Ryan VanVlerah; his step-daughters Kim Davis and Stacy (Dale) Flanagan and their two sons Josiah and Cody; his four sisters Helen Morgan of Florida, Jean Maness of Sycamore, Pat Davy of Florida, and Carol Zittel of Arizona. Morry has too many beloved nieces  and nephews from the Johnson side and  his deceased wife's side of the family to be named.  They were truly loved by him.  

He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia; his daughter Wanda; four brothers and four sisters.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb. 

The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at St John’s Lutheran Church, 126 East South Street, Creston, Illinois 60113. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Creston, with Full Military Honors by Rochelle VFW post 3878. 

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.