Perry Beymer Johnson May 28, 1927 – July 17, 2010

Perry Beymer Johnson, son of Olive (Beymer) and Neil Johnson, was born on May 28, 1927 in rural Ringgold county, Iowa.

Perry attended Diagonal schools graduating in 1944. Perry enlisted in the U.S. Army right after graduation. While in the army, Perry married Donna Marie Tindle on February 24, 1946. Perry was stationed in Alaska and Donna Marie joined him there. After serving two years in the army, Perry and Donna Marie returned to Diagonal and Perry worked in road construction. Later they moved to Marshalltown and Boone. While living in Boone, Perry took correspondence courses to repair radios and TVs. 

Perry and Donna had seven children, Joe, Jim, Jack (stillborn), Jay, Jan, Jil and Jerry.

Perry, Donna Marie and the children lived in Diagonal where Perry worked for Bud Beymer at the Phillips gas station. In 1966 Perry and Donna Marie purchased the Diagonal Caf?? from Wilbur and Josephine Maudlin. In 1968 Perry started driving a semi truck for Kinnison Trucking of Red Oak. They ran the caf?? until 1974 when Perry, Donna Marie, Jil and Jerry moved to Red Oak so that Perry could be closer to his work.

In May 1981 Perry and Donna Marie moved to Creston, Iowa. Perry passed away on July 17, 2010 while a resident at Creston Nursing & Rehab Center in Creston.

Perry is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna Marie Johnson; daughter, Jil Johnson (Jim Hartman) of Creston, Iowa; sons, Joe Johnson of Creston, Iowa, Jim (Elaine) Johnson of The Colony, Texas and Jay (Vicky) Johnson of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Sarah (Oscar) Venegas of El Paso, Texas, Heath (Melissa) Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska, Ben (Dawn) Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, Tara Wyer (fianc?? Greg Myers) of Corning, Iowa and Sara (Dan) Coleman of Hopkins, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren, Emma and Joseph Venegas of El Paso, Texas, Mackenzie and Madison Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska, Savannah Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa and Ethan Fry and Allivea VanDeBoe of Corning, Iowa, and brother, Elvin (Rebecca) Johnson of Alexandria, Virginia.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jack in 1949; daughter, Jan in 1971; son, Jerry in 2001; grandsons, Christopher Johnson in 1979 and Richie Hagen in 1983; brother, Cecil in 2001, and sister-in-law, Darlene Johnson in 1998.

Services were conducted at the United Church of Diagonal in Diagonal on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, with Rev. Skip Rushing officiating. Musicians included Judy Newton      and Judy Cunning.

Casket bearers included Heath Johnson, Ben Johnson, Dan Coleman, Lloyd Johnson, Jim Eason and Clair ‘Skip’ Eason.

Honorary pallbearers were Jim Hartman, Kenny Johnson, Theron Johnson and Carroll Johnson.

Perry was laid at rest in the Diagonal Cemetery, Diagonal.