Mervin Nels Johnson

Funeral Services for Mervin Nels Johnson age 92 of Omaha, formerly of Plainview will be held at 10: 30 am. Tuesday, September 20 ^th at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Plainview.  Visitation will be Monday from 5-7 P.M. at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.  Mervin passed away September 16, 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Ashburn Funeral Home in Plainview is in charge of arrangements.

Mervin Nels Johnson was born to Meldy and Rena ‘Johnson’ Johnson March 18, 1930 in Antelope County. He was baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church southwest of Plainview, Nebraska. He was confirmed by Rev. Harold Larsen at Bethany Lutheran Church. Mervin attended school District 62 in Antelope County and Plainview High School. He helped his father with the farming business. He was united in marriage to Sharalyn Beth Pittack October 7, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church by Rev. Theo Stolp. They have two daughters, Becky and Pamela.

Mervin was inducted to the army force in 1952 and spent time in the military serving in the Korean War (1952, 1953). When he returned from the military he farmed west of Plainview until 1958 when he worked as a salesman for Pittack Ford Sales until 1960.  He and his wife than operated/owned a restaurant business in Plainview “Headquarters” from 1960-1965. Mervin than returned to farming in 1966 and farmed around the Plainview area which included taking on the role of farm manager for others until his retirement.

Mervin and Sharalyn moved to Surprise Arizona to a retirement area called “Sun Village” for 9 months out of the year spending more time there in later years, calling it home. Mervin loved his time in Sun Village, made many new friends, enjoying perfecting his game of golf (even getting a hole in one), playing cards (ending the games with the required game of ‘show down’), entertaining, and hosting happy hours.  His home always had the ‘welcome sign’ out on the ‘fifth green’. Mervin enjoyed his wife’s seasonal decorations at their home and the words of ‘I love you Toot’s’ were often heard (married for 70 years).

Mervin was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church (Plainview) and Lord of Life Lutheran (Sun City West), regularly attending church services. He served on the Our Saviors Lutheran Church Council, for 19 years was part of the Plainview volunteer fireman department, was a member of the Plainview Country Club, and is a lifetime member of American Legion, Claire Fryer Post 148.

Mervin loved ‘being with’ his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, family members and friends, calling it “very much the meaning of quality time.” Since 2017 he has resided at an assisted living home in Omaha and passed away September 16 at The Waterford at Miracle Hills in Omaha. Merv (as we called him) will be truly missed and forever loved not by only his family but also by all who knew and loved him.

He leaves to mourn: wife Sharalyn ‘Toots’, daughter Becky Johnson of Omaha, Pamela Johnson-Carlson of Coralville Iowa; 2 grandchildren Colin (Dani) Carlson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Caitlin (Nicholas) Jorgensen of Fremont, Nebraska; 4 great grandchildren Quinn and Hayes Carlson of Coeur d’Alene and Grayson and Ari Jorgensen of Fremont; a special sister-in-law Norma Pittack of Billings, Montana; and a host of special nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceded in death: his parents, parents-in-laws, sister Norma Pittack, brother-in-law LeRoy Pittack, nephews Jerry Pittack and Jerry Hickman, and 6 sister-in-laws and 6 brother-in-laws.