Obituary for Clifford Johnson
Clifford Edward Johnson, 88, of Peoria Illinois went to his eternal home after his death on Dec. 19, 2018 at UnityPoint Health Proctor in Peoria.
He was born on October 5, 1930 in New York City to John Johnson and Edith Edwardson Johnson. His father came from Sweden as a boy of 14 and later become a New York City Fire Lieutenant. His parents and older brother, Herbert, preceded him in death.
He married Carol McDermott, the love of his life, on June 17, 1967 and they were married for 49 years. Carol died in 2016.
Cliff is survived by his twin sister, Doris Zappala of West Lebanon, New Hampshire and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cliff grew up in New York City where with his family he was an active member of the Salvation Army played in their band.
He moved to Peoria to attend Bradley University where he graduated in 1957 with a BS in civil engineering.
After graduation he joined the Army and was trained as a parachutist at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon honorable discharge he began work as an engineer with LaTourneau in Peoria. He worked in the Haulpack Division with the huge mining trucks until retirement in 1995.
Cliff was active in the college ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) as a student and continued to serve as a volunteer the rest of his life. He was a member of the Local Committee, organizer of the monthly Community Prayer Group which met for 50 years, speaker for chapter meetings, chauffeur for many speakers at the Triennial Urbana Missions Conferences, and served on numerous conference prayer teams.
He and Carol were very active at Bacon Memorial Church until it closed and then joined First Covenant Church where he served as an elder, missions committee member, and helped with Vacation Bible School. He loved to meet new people and visit the elderly saints of the church and those with special physical needs.
He served for many years on the boards of the Peoria Christian Center and The Rural Home Missionary Association.
Cliff owned a sailboat and enjoyed taking hundreds of people out in his boat as well as racing when he often came in first or second. Downhill skiing, kayaking, hiking, and wind surfing were also great loves as well as gardening, feeding the birds, traveling, photography, and painting.
Cliff has had a strong and confident faith in the personal and saving work of Jesus Christ and has complete assurance and peace of enjoying eternal life with his Lord Jesus Christ. He was always sharing verbally and giving his writings to everyone he met about how God had been active in his life.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made “in honor of Cliff Johnson” to First Covenant Church, 3616 N. Bigelow St., 61604 or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 7895, Madison Wi 53791.
A memorial service will be planned for Spring.
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He was born on October 5, 1930 in New York City to John Johnson and Edith Edwardson Johnson. His father came from Sweden as a boy of 14 and later become a New York City Fire Lieutenant. His parents and older brother, Herbert, preceded him in death.
He married Carol McDermott, the love of his life, on June 17, 1967 and they were married for 49 years. Carol died in 2016.
Cliff is survived by his twin sister, Doris Zappala of West Lebanon, New Hampshire and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cliff grew up in New York City where with his family he was an active member of the Salvation Army played in their band.
He moved to Peoria to attend Bradley University where he graduated in 1957 with a BS in civil engineering.
After graduation he joined the Army and was trained as a parachutist at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon honorable discharge he began work as an engineer with LaTourneau in Peoria. He worked in the Haulpack Division with the huge mining trucks until retirement in 1995.
Cliff was active in the college ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) as a student and continued to serve as a volunteer the rest of his life. He was a member of the Local Committee, organizer of the monthly Community Prayer Group which met for 50 years, speaker for chapter meetings, chauffeur for many speakers at the Triennial Urbana Missions Conferences, and served on numerous conference prayer teams.
He and Carol were very active at Bacon Memorial Church until it closed and then joined First Covenant Church where he served as an elder, missions committee member, and helped with Vacation Bible School. He loved to meet new people and visit the elderly saints of the church and those with special physical needs.
He served for many years on the boards of the Peoria Christian Center and The Rural Home Missionary Association.
Cliff owned a sailboat and enjoyed taking hundreds of people out in his boat as well as racing when he often came in first or second. Downhill skiing, kayaking, hiking, and wind surfing were also great loves as well as gardening, feeding the birds, traveling, photography, and painting.
Cliff has had a strong and confident faith in the personal and saving work of Jesus Christ and has complete assurance and peace of enjoying eternal life with his Lord Jesus Christ. He was always sharing verbally and giving his writings to everyone he met about how God had been active in his life.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made “in honor of Cliff Johnson” to First Covenant Church, 3616 N. Bigelow St., 61604 or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 7895, Madison Wi 53791.
A memorial service will be planned for Spring.
To plant a tree in memory of Clifford Johnson, visit the Tribute Store.
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