Severd V. Johnson, 78, of 41 Cambridge Court, died Feb. 15, 2010, at Hospice House.He was born Dec. 17, 1931, in Ottumwa to Harry and Ina Riffle Johnson. A graduate of Agency High School in 1949, he graduated from Iowa State University with a major in farm operations and a minor in teaching. He collected honor with the Air Force ROTC. He was stationed at Miho, Japan, during the Korean Conflict, where he supervised 2,000 civilian workers on the base. He returned to help open Hurlbert Field on Elgin AF Base. After he left active duty, he remained in the active ready reserves. He was a liason between students interested in the Air Force Academy and was state commander of the program for 14 years. He retired with the rank of Colonel.On July 16, 1957, he married Marlene Lewis, and together they raised their children, Jeffrey and Kathy, on a farm north of Agency. Severd was a successful farmer, raising corn and beans and choice-grade cattle.He was a life member of Agency United Methodist Church, a 50-plus-year member of the Agency Lions and in past years he had served on the Cardinal School Board, the Wapello County Extension Board and Young Farmers of America.In retirement, Severd and Marlene traveled extensively, having visited over 80 countries. The most memorable trip was taking their family to Maui, Hawaii, in 2007 in celebration of their 50th anniversary.Surviving are his wife, Marlene; a son, Jeffrey (Marcia) Johnson of Denver, Colo., and their children Aaron, Leah and Sam; a daughter, Kathy (Dave) Dorff of Des Moines and their children Stephen, Kevin and Erika.Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home; Rev. Arley Ellingson and Rev. Bob Dvorak officiating. Burial will be in the Agency Cemetery.Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Reece Funeral Home with the family present from 5-7 p.m.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agency United Methodist Church or Hospice, P.O. Box 1150, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501

Published in the Ottumwa Daily Courier from 2/16/2010 - 2/18/2010