Floyd R. Johansen

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at the Friend Congregational Church with Pastor Tim Shrunk officiating.  Interment is in Andrew Cemetery with military services conducted by Ford-Banka Post #183 and the U.S. Army.  Visitation is Monday 2-8:00 p.m. at Lauber Funeral Home, Friend, and also 1 hour prior to services on Tuesday at church.  Memorials have been established to the church or to the Friend American Legion.  For the safety of those whom may be attending the service with pre-existing conditions, please consider wearing masks for their protection.

       Floyd Richard Johansen was born September 3, 1917, on a farm north of Friend, Nebraska in Seward County to Fred and Marie (Dorffler) Johansen, the 2nd of four children, Oliver, Floyd, Willard and Eleanor.  He passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020 in Seward at the age of 103.

      They grew up on a farm between Friend and Beaver Crossing.  Floyd attended country school district #23 and graduated from Friend High School with the class of 1934.  After high school, Floyd continued to work on the family farm and in 1938 helped establish Johansen Fox Farm.  Although he wanted to be a pilot or a bombardier, Floyd ended up serving in the infantry and was drafted into the US Army during World War II.  He served on the 210th Anti-Aircraft Batallion in the Aleution Islands in 1942-43 and in the European Theatre with the 87th Infantry in France and Germany.  Floyd suffered from “Trench foot”, which took him out of combat and so he drove a truck in Belgium assisting in the liberation of survivors from concentration camps near Dachau.  A “pretty sad project”, Floyd once said.

       Floyd was honorably discharged as a corporal on November 28, 1945.  Returning to Nebraska, Floyd began a long career with the United States Postal Service, starting as with the Friend Post Office in 1948 where he worked as a clerk and carrier for 35 years.  He also was employed part-time with the Lincoln Post Office for nine years, retiring in 1983.  Floyd was united in marriage to Vera Jane Dekker-Milton on January 1, 1968 and resided in Friend where they were married for 48 years. With this marriage he gained two children and eventually six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful husband, dad and grandfather.  Floyd loved spending time with the grandchildren and encouraged his family in whatever they did.   In 1929, Floyd joined the Congregational Church where he became a long-time faithful member, being the oldest member of the church for almost 92 years.  His faith was a very important part of his life.  He was always very active in the church and their activities throughout the years.  He enjoyed working in his yard and garden, also golfing at the Friend Country Club where he was a charter member and bowling in the Men’s Leagues and state tournaments. Floyd was able to go with his brother Willard on the World War II Honor Flight in 2009, which was a highlight of his life.  Returning from the service, he also joined the Friend American Legion Ford Banka Post #183 in 1946.  He also was a member of the 87th Division Association and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. 

             Survivors include his step children, Barb and Van Springer, Seward, Sandy Milton of Grand Island; six grandchildren and spouses, Chad and Gaynelle Springer, Wichita, KS, Trent and Andrea Springer, Seward, Kristi Jo and Daren Mitchell, Brighton, CO,  Erin and Andrew Cunningham, Denver, CO, Rikkie and Tom Furse, and Kasey Milton, all of Grand Island; 11 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Marge Johansen, Friend; Bellevue, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, Nancy Dekker, Mobridge, SD; Jeri Dekker, Oakland, many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

             He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Vera Jane (2015); brothers and sister-in-law, Willard, Oliver and Ella Mae Johansen, an infant sister, Eleanor, a step-son, Richard Milton, great-grandsons, Alex Mitchell, Jarod Mitchell; a brothers-in-law, Robert, David, and Douglas Dekker, a step-brother, spouse, Dale and Kay Ratliff, a step sister, Lila Mae (Al) Janosek, and a step-mother, Lila Johansen, and a sister-in-law, Dolores Dekker.

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