Steven Johnson

DIKE – Steven Byron Johnson, 73 of Dike passed away on June 14, 2024 ... Flag Day.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Abels Funeral Homes and Cremation is assisting the family.

Steven was born July 1, 1950, to Byron and Edith (Jessen) Johnson. He attended school in Dike and Wilcox, Arizona, graduating in 1968. He served in the U.S. Army from June 10, 1971, until March 9, 1973. Shortly thereafter, he began working at John Deere in Waterloo.

Steve married Sara Hansen in April of 1975. They had two daughters, Jamee and Casee. They later divorced.

He married Lori Soska on September 7, 1985, at the Little Brown Church, in Nashua. They had two sons, Derek and Adam.

Steve rode the "John Deere Lay-Off Roller Coaster" for several years, finding other employment at Rockford, Illinois, FMS Corp. in Voorhies and at Wayne Engineering in Cedar Falls. Eventually, he was called back to Deere and worked until his retirement in February 2013.

Steve is survived by his wife, Lori, daughters Jamee (Ray) Benson of Tripoli, Casee (Jason) Boose of Waterloo, sons, Derek of Seward, Arkansas, Adam of Parkersburg, five grandchildren, McKinna, Patric, Peyton, Kayla, Noah, and one great granddaughter, Charli. Also, two sisters, Nancy Johnson of Acworth, Georgia and Judi Lohman of Tuscon, Arizona, brother-in-law Tom Soska of Cedar Falls, many nieces and nephews, along with two fur babies, Copper the dog and Rudy the goat.

He was preceded in death by his parents Byron and Edith, and his in-laws, Wesley and Pauline Soska.

So, the next time you raise "Old Glory", whether it be to honor this great country, honor veterans that have served and those who continue to serve, or ... because it is Flag Day … give a nod to Steve … you'll be looking up anyway!