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Rodney Lee Johnson, 63, passed away at his home in Newell on March 25, 2024, surrounded by his wife and daughters, following a three-year battle with metastatic kidney cancer. Our hearts are broken. He was ushered to heaven with love and we rejoice that he is now with our Lord, we will be reunited one day.
Funeral services will take place Friday, March 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 28, from 4-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Newell Fire Department, Nain Lutheran Church in Newell or the Newell Municipal Pool Fundraiser.
Rod was born on March 27, 1960, on his dad’s birthday, to Eula Gayle Jensen Johnson Petersen and Allen Johnson of Newell. He was welcomed home by brothers Mike and Layne, Jay and Jim would be born later, Rod was the middle child.
Rod was proud to be a life-time member of Nain Lutheran Church, being baptized and confirmed there. He served on the council, as council president, an usher, a Sunday School teacher and other various committees. He loved performing for the “Tonight at Nain” dinner theaters and singing in the choir.
Rod graduated from Newell-Providence High School in 1978. He entered the workforce doing various jobs until he was hired by DFS in Newell. Rod was employed there for 20 years, leaving to manage the Feed Mill (Landus) in Larrabee for the next 17 years, until he retired due to his health.
Rodney married Diane on May 25, 1984. They were blessed with three amazing, beautiful daughters; Jessica, Angela and Trisha. They also had two foreign exchange daughters from Germany, Helene and Jenny, and bonus daughter Keera of Utah. Rod and Diane loved being parents — attending their events, cheering them on and pushing them to be all they could be, even encouraging them to spread their wings and move to the East Coast. In 2023 they were blessed with their first granddaughter, Hazel, who quickly stole grandpa’s heart. Rod also had his “town” grandchildren across the street and Keera’s children who kept us entertained and well-loved, plus many treasured friends.
Community service was very important to Rod. In 1983 he joined the Newell Fire Department where he was an active member until his death. He served 41 years. He obtained the certification of FireFighter II and held various offices. He was an Emergency Medical Technician for 15 years; he was very skilled with the Jaws of Life and the pumper. Neither Rod nor Diane ever left Newell, being very proud of where they lived. Rod also served as mayor for two terms and on the Newell Pride Committee for several years.
Rod loved to spend time with family and friends playing games and cards. He enjoyed working with his hands remodeling their home or building things. We all believed he could fix anything! He enjoyed watching football and loved to run Newell-Fonda chains under those Friday night lights. He could often be found on the golf course hitting a round or in the club house enjoying a cold beer. Rod loved traveling, he scratched a trip to Denmark and Germany, visiting both German daughters, off this bucket list in June 2023. Rod never liked to drive the same way twice which led to “Rod adventures” as the girls and Diane lovingly refer to them. Rod had a great sense of humor, we will miss his chuckle and the way he teased us.
Left to cherish every memory are his wife, Diane of 40 years; children: Jessica (Olivia) Johnson of Boston, Mass.; Angela of Brooklyn, New York; and Trisha Johnson of Newell; granddaughter: Hazel of Boston, Mass.; brothers: Mike (Patty) of Lenexa, Kan.; Layne (Mary) of Conroe, Texas; Jay (Gina) of Huxley; Jim (Carolyn) of Houston, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews, which uncle “Yod” loved deeply; his Petersen brothers and sisters: Debbe Bircher of Orlando, Fla.; Patricia (Dennis) Arnold of Iowa City; Greg (Kim) of Garner, N.C.; brothers-in-Law: Doug (Sandy) Franzmeier of Storm Lake; Dennis Franzmeier; and father-in-law Merle (Judy) Franzmeier of Palmer.
Rod was welcomed to heaven by his paternal and maternal grandparents; mother Eula Petersen; father Allen Johnson; stepfather Howard Petersen; stepbrother Howard Petersen; mother-in-law Leah Franzmeier; other family members and friends.
Rod would drop anything to help a friend or a stranger in need, especially when that pager went off. He will be missed by many. We were all blessed to know and love him.
