Obit of Robert L. Johnson

Husband of Anita Gillett Thorndyde Johnson

Robert ( Bob) L, Johnson, 87, of Naperville, Illinois formerly of Rogers, Arkansas and Springfield, Illinois entered eternal life on March 25, 2019 with his 

wife , Anita at his side. He was born November 22, 1931 to Oscar and Ione Mellish Johnson in Thayer, Illinois. Bob married Shirley Grogan in September 1955 and they later divorced in 1983. Together they had a daughter, Kathleen. He was a devoted father to Kathleen (Rick) Wanless of Springfield, Illinois. He was a loving grandfather to Ashley Wanless (Todd Weill) , Ericka (Jose') Salas, and Kelsie Wanless ( deceased) ; and a loving great- grandfather to Audriana Salas and Torrey Weill. A sister, Lois Surlak, lives in New Auburn, Wisconsin. He married Anita Gillett Thorndyke on May 19, 1984. He was a loving step-father to Peggy Thorndyke Jupe (Andy Novey) of Boca Raton, Florida; Jean Thorndyke (Steve) Hannah of Joliet, Illinois, and Mark Thorndyke (Sue) of Barrington, Illinois. He loved his step-grandchildren; Matthew, Taylor, Jack, and Morgan Thorndyke; Carly (Brett) Moyer; Caleb and Kyle Hannah; and adored his great - grandson Liam Moyer. Bob served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the Battleship USS Iowa. Upon his return he was employed with Illinois Bell Telephone and retired from AT&T after a long and successful career. He was a lifetime member of Sertoma International and the American Legion. He volunteered as the director of Habitat for Humanity as well as the Beaver Lake Fire Department in Rogers, Arkansas. He was instrumental in bringing Via de Cristo to the Arkansas/Oklahoma Synod. Bob had been a member of Peace Lutheran and Living Word Lutheran Church in Rogers. Arkansas. He was a current member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Ione Johnson, his brother Arthur Johnson, and his granddaughter Kelsie Wanless. Interment will be held at the Abraham Lincoln Military Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois on May 13, 2019 at 11:30 A.M. Memorials can be made in Bob's name to the Mission Fund at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1310 Shepherd Drive, Naperville, Illinois, 60565; The Mission Fund at Living Word Lutheran Church 301 N. 33rd Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72756, or to any Habitat for Humanity.