Allan Arthur Johnson

Allan Arthur Johnson, age 88, of Spencer, Iowa, formerly of Northwood, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 28, 2025, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Home in Spencer. Allan was born to Arthur and Mary Johnson on August 17, 1936, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He spent his entire childhood on a farm east of Northwood and was baptized, confirmed, and married at Deer Creek Lutheran Church. Allan attended Deer Creek #3 through 8th grade and then Northwood High School where he graduated with the class of 1954. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Read, on July 16, 1955. Their 64-year marriage was blessed with seven children, Allan’s greatest treasures, bested only by the 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren to follow.

Allan had a number of jobs in the field of agriculture including positions with Farm Bureau, FS, ABS and a number of years in the Ag Department at Kirkwood Community College as head of the Beef Department before concentrating on Ag construction. He and Carol were great supporters of their kids’ and later their grandkids’ activities, putting miles upon miles on vehicles to attend county fairs and sporting events. Allan’s greatest passion for the past 30 years has been his involvement in the cattle industry. He was an involved member of the Worth Co. Cattlemen, board member of the Iowa Cattlemen, longtime member of the Iowa and Minnesota Simmental Association, American Simmental Association, and the Iowa Angus Association. He was on the Iowa Cattlemen’s Board of Directors for many years and was inducted into the Worth County Cattlemen Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2017, he was awarded the Minnesota Simmental Association Traveling Bell Award and the Christensen Elite Award given by the Iowa Simmental Association. Allan and Carol were strong supporters of junior breed associations for many years. With Allan manning the grill and Carol by his side, the pair served countless meals to those participants at shows and breed gatherings. The drive to promote the cattle industry to young people was at the forefront of much of what he did. 

Particularly in his later years, Allan took great pleasure in working with young cattle producers to get them started in the business. Those partnerships were a passion of his, and it gave him great joy to cheer their successes and share his knowledge with the next generations.

Allan was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carol; and his son, Mark. Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Greg Johnson, Wendy Henrichs and husband Todd, Kris Keene and husband David, Paula Buenger and husband Joel, Scott Johnson and wife Lisa, Laurie Kenny and husband Kurt, and daughter-in-law Pam Johnson; grandchildren, Matt Johnson (Melissa), Brad Johnson, Leah Johnson (Ray Salas), Trent Johnson (Allison), Danielle Gathercole (Michael), Grady Henrichs (Abbey), Chad Keene (Dani), Brent Keene (Morgan), Jenna Steffen (Jessob), Andrew Buenger (Kaitlyn), Kyle Johnson (Jodi), Holly Johnson, Jason Kenny, Zach Kenny and Rachel Kenny; great-grandchildren, Harper and Sawyer Johnson, Colton and Kaydee Crumbaugh, James and Jude Gathercole, Lucy Johnson, Rylee Henrichs, Benton, Lily and Charlotte Keene, Gracen, Josie and Emma Keene, Jameson Steffen, Ayden, Jaycee and Aria Johnson, Keegan Hutchinson and Bennett Jeske; brother, Neil Johnson and wife Judy; sister-in-law, Gail Read; and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The visitation for Allan will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel in Northwood, Iowa with family present from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 10th at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, rural Carpenter, Iowa.

Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel of Northwood is assisting the family with arrangements.