Lt. Col Joseph Johnson, Jr.
February 2, 1943 ~ October 1,2022
Lt. Col Joseph W. Johnson Jr., 79, of Lincoln, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 1, 2022. Cremation was chosen. Memorial Services will be held at Wyuka Funeral Home on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. with Father Anthony Bedient officiating. Military Honors will be performed following services in Wyuka Cemetery, courtesy of Offutt Air Force Honor Guard. Memorials may be directed to Down Syndrome Association for families of Nebraska, visit www.dsafnebraska.org.
Joseph was born February 2, 1943, in Lincoln, NE. He graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School, the class of 1960. Joseph earned his Bachelor of Political Science degree from the University of Nebraska, in 1964.
He worked for Nebraska Book and enlisted in the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1966; commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1971. Joseph served in the Guard full time as Chief of Supply and later as Public Affairs Officer, retiring after 30 years of service in 1996. Very active in the Lincoln community, he was on the original LincolnFest board; he served for several years on the Make-A-Wish Board; active in the Lincoln Rotary, and Admen’s Gridiron.
Joseph is survived by son Michael (Tanya); daughter Anne; grandchildren, Karsen, Marc, Andrea, Clint, Michael, and Evan; sister Sandie; niece Kristin (Pat) as well as nephew Josh.
A great patriot and friend…I will miss his smile and sense of humor.
Thanks for being an important part of my life, Joe…
I came to know Joe through our mutual acquaintance with my nephew, Col. David Cohen. Our common bond is that we each have 1/2 of the broken set of wings originally given to David upon his graduation from flight school in Oklahoma We both took note of this event and remarked upon its significance and the honor David bestowed upon us. Joe and I would communicate from time to time and lived a little vicariously through David’s life and career path. I respected Joe and felt the good fortune to have met him and to know him via emails. He left with me the impression that he felt deep bonds with his family, his community and his many friendships acquired through the years. My most sincere condolences to those who loved him. May his memory be a blessing.
May the Lord embrace you in His glory my dear friend!
Joe was our wonderful friend. Had many wonderful meals he cooked at our home. My husband Lt. Col Laverne Neumann had much respect for him. He was very wise, we enjoyed his company very much. He will be missed. Prayers to his family. He was very proud of his children.
I knew Lt. Col. Johnson when I first enlisted in the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1975. He was a great officer and leader. I am sorry to hear of his passing.
Joe’s numerous contributions to the success of the Nebraska Air National Guard is too long a list for these pages. He was the ultimate wordsmith and was called upon often to provide documentation for the awards the organization received. He was the unofficial and official historian and was the driving force behind the publication of the ANG histories and their placement in the Library of Congress. He was invaluable to me. His insights and, yes, opinions, with which we did not always agree, served the NEANG and me very well. Debating with him made us all better. My family and I could not have asked for a better or more loyal friend. We will miss him. May his memory be a blessing to his beloved family and all who knew him.
Joe started off as my dad’s good friend and somewhere along the way became mine. He shared with me the art of beautiful writing (and the shame and disdain of all else). He wrote on actual stationery, signing his letters in his customary “Cheers.” I adopted it years ago as it felt both warm and unique — both very much like Joe. Joe had the good sense or good luck to raise Michael, whose friendship has allowed the Cohen-Johnson friendship to reach the 2nd generation. May his memory forever be a blessing…
For a brief time in 1979 Joe Johnson was my commander in the 155th Services Flight. He served us well and started the process of getting food and lodging services out of the dark ages. He pushed hard to get us to take our wartime mission and our image seriously. RIP Sir.
I always liked and respected LT Col Johnson. He was a huge help to the Chief’s Council in getting names and dates straight when we were designing and building the Retiree Memorial. He was a good leader and a true patriot. Rest in peace sir.
My sympathy to Joe’s family. Joe sure had a big heart! I worked with him on several nominations for the Lincoln Southeast Sports Hall of Fame – including my Dad’s. He was very generous with his time, efforts, and positive work for his alma mater. I enjoyed getting to know him as we worked on Dad’s nomination and eventual induction. May your fond memories give you some joy, hope and peace.
Joe was a one of a kind, classmate, friend and Patriot. Our family always enjoyed his “stop over” visits with us in western (Grant) Nebraska – always reminiscing about the good times in Lincoln. He was traveling more then & we learned some about son, Mike & family in CO. He was so proud of his family & often shared updates about Sandie. He continually sent caring updates to us about our classmates from LSE Class of ’60 + recipes & projects he was enjoying. We will miss him and are grateful for the times shared & memories held.
Ah, Joe…A buddy since first grade. I will always remember him for being a great advocate for me and my friends and for his unwavering loyalty to Lincoln Southeast High School, his son, his grandchildren and the US Military. Often we differed in political beliefs but we had a great time challenging each other. I will miss you Joe! Jill Cole
To Lt Col Johnson’s family, He was a strict and by the book officer. He was also very generous to international allies he deployed a few times and he provided logistical support. I was a first line supervisor in the supply squadron in the early eighties. The 155th ARW was blessed by his service.
Joe was my Uncle (my mom’s brother) and we had a close relationship for most of my life. He was always a source of support and encouragement and played a key role in helping me through some very hard times. We spent time together nearly every Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was an adult. He was a smart, generous, and articulate man. I will always remember his love for culinary arts and good food. He never hesitated to leave an incredible tip for good service at his favorite restaurants. He kept to himself in day to day life, but was a dedicated friend to many who I heard him speak highly of over the years. He loved his sister (my mom), his kids and always expressed how much respect he had for them, and for me and my own family. Much love to his kids (my cousins) Mike and Anne, and the rest of his family and friends who he left behind. He made a significant impact on my life and will be remembered and missed forever.
Dear Joe, my cousin, was a close buddy during the time we were growing up in Lincoln, when he lived on Van Dorn and later on Calvert St, we both went to Sheridan and SouthEast and enjoyed many afternoons in the treehouse and sandbox, and the pond down in the park. He was just a year ahead of me. Glad we had those years because I moved away from Lincoln soon after. With several cousins at southeast, Jim Murphy. Sandie Johnson Frank, Jo Anne Scott Jackson (can you believe SEHS had even elementary students for a time) Joe and I as students had good role models and, with a principal like Hazel G. Scott (our aunt), and teachers like Roy Churchill (cousin), Mr. Frederick and Mr. Oscar Bretthorst, we had lots of extended family to look after us. We probably didn’t appreciate it as much as we should have at the time, but the discipline I’m sure stood him in good stead in Joe’s military career. Joe had a ready wit, and a kindness and I am sure we have all been better for knowing him. I have missed his e-mails for a time now, knew his illness was serious when we couldn’t even communicate that way. The illnesses that sneak up on us with old age are not kind, and hope the resurrection that the Bible speaks of will be his lot. In the meantime, may his memory bring a smile to all of us who will miss him! Condolences to all you family.
Joe was a kind and resourceful person. I knew Joe through the Nebraska Book Store and the Nebraska Air National Guard. Occasionally, Joe would get together with my brother Terry and myself, and we would play the card game of Hearts for hours. Joe was also very helpful to me when I was writing essays for my English classes at UNL. There is a Rose Bush in Lincoln’s Sunken Gardens Joe dedicated to my mother, Marcella Elizabeth Mulligan Schmitz. Physically, Joe may not be with us, but he will live on in our hearts and minds.
Joe was a kind and resourceful person. I knew Joe through the Nebraska Book Store, and the Nebraska Air National Guard. Occasionally, Joe would get together with my brother Terry and myself, and we would play the card game of Hearts for hours. Joe was also very helpful to me when I was writing essays for my English classes at UNL. There is a Rose Bush in Lincoln’s Sunken Gardens Joe dedicated to my mother, Marcella Elizabeth Mulligan Schmitz. Physically, Joe may not be with us, but he will live on in our hearts and minds.