William "Bill" A. Johnson, age 81, passed away with his family surrounding him on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Fremont Area Medical Center.

Bill was born on July 23, 1932 in Broken Bow, Nebraska. He was the oldest son of E. Thome and Jean Johnson. His brother, Howard Johnson of Ellensburg, WA followed two years later. The Johnson family moved to Fremont where he attended Fremont High School graduating in the class of 1950.

Bill was an avid cowboy and loved the rodeo. He especially loved Cheyenne Frontier Days. As a young man he was a member of the Progressive Stockmen 4-H Club for approximately eight years and exhibited beef and swine at the 4-H Fair in the 1940's. Later in life he would serve as the Grand Marshall of Fremont's 60th Annual 4-H Parade to honor his many years of service to the Fremont 4-H Club, the Dodge County 4-H Agricultural Society, and the State Fair Board of Directors and to the areas young people. Johnson served as one of the first 4-H Fair Horse Show Superintendents and as President of the Dodge County Agricultural Society. He served numerous terms as a Nebraska State Fair board member.

Bill attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he met Mary Ball Clearman. While at the University he affiliated with Alpha Gamma Ro Fraternity. He graduated with a degree in Agriculture.

On December 19, 1953 he married Mary and the newly married couple moved to Bill's hometown of Fremont, Nebraska and moved into what Mary dubbed "the rickety house" on Howard Street and began to build a life. The first of three daughters Jeanie arrived in 1954 and Janet soon followed in 1956. They moved again to Clarkson Street and the baby of the family, Laura, joined the busy household in 1960. In 1964 the family moved to what would become their permanent home for over forty years - the Johnson Farm at the east end of Military Avenue.

Bill worked for Monsanto before moving to Midwest Companies which later became ConAgra.

Bill loved and appreciated the beauty of nature and throughout his life took many camping and hunting trips to Colorado and Wyoming with his family and the Hunting Group. They shared their lives and developed strong friendships over the years and an occasional surprise out of a brown-bag that Bill would bring on their many trips.

Bill Johnson was a Methodist, Rotarian, Republican, Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Husker, and friend to many. He was proud to be a Nebraskan and loved his home state.

He was also a good husband. Mary passed away in May of 2013 but not before they celebrated 59 years of marriage. In the past year bill spent time with his family and grandchildren including special trips to the Grand Canyon and Wyoming.

He is survived by his three daughters Jeanie, Janet, and Laura (Kevin McBrien) and two grandsons-Collin and Chase.

Memorials be made to the Fremont YMCA, First United Methodist Church, or the University of Nebraska Lincoln-School of Agriculture.

Visitation: Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Dugan Funeral Chapel.

Funeral Service: 12:00 noon Friday, July 25, 2014 at First United Methodist Church. Pastors Gregory Hall and Michael McGregor are officiating.

Interment: Private

Visitation: Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Dugan Funeral Chapel.
Funeral Service: 12:00 noon Friday, July 25, 2014 at First United Methodist Church. Pastors Gregory Hall and Michael McGregor are officiating.
Interment: Private

Memorials be made to the Fremont YMCA, First United Methodist Church, or the University of Nebraska Lincoln-School of Agriculture.