Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Geneva > Geneva Cemetery > Sheldon Albert Johnson

Sheldon Albert Johnson

Birth	:	18 Oct 1926 Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	29 Jul 2009 Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.5359900, -97.6064900
Plot	:	Sec. 5 Lot 33 Plot 06
Description	:	JOHNSON, SHELDON ALBERT—Sheldon Albert Johnson was born to Albert R. and Cecil (Lytle) Johnson on October 18, 1926, on a farm in rural Fillmore County. He passed away July 29, 2009, at the age of 82 years, nine months and 11 days, after fighting a long battle of loneliness. He was the youngest of four children in the family. After attending school at District No. 63 through the eighth grade, he graduated from Geneva High School with the Class of 1944. Sheldon attended a small rural United Brethren Church along with his family, until it closed for lack of funds... Read More	JOHNSON, SHELDON ALBERT—Sheldon Albert Johnson was born to Albert R. and Cecil (Lytle) Johnson on October 18, 1926, on a farm in rural Fillmore County. He passed away July 29, 2009, at the age of 82 years, nine months and 11 days, after fighting a long battle of loneliness. He was the youngest of four children in the family. After attending school at District No. 63 through the eighth grade, he graduated from Geneva High School with the Class of 1944. Sheldon attended a small rural United Brethren Church along with his family, until it closed for lack of funds and a minister. With his parents, he became a member of the Methodist Church in Geneva in 1939. In 1945, he transferred his membership to the Congregational Church in Geneva and became a 50-year member in 1995. Later that year, he transferred back to his home church, the Geneva United Methodist Church. He was married to Mary Lynn Barbur on December 15, 1944, at the Congregational Church in Geneva. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1994 at the same church. To this union was born one son, Michael R. (Mike). Sheldon started farming and raising livestock while still in high school. After their marriage, they moved to a farm and his farming and livestock enterprises continued to grow each year. A true steward of the soil, he began using erosion methods long before they were recognized. His pleasure in purebred and commercial livestock was widely known. He and Mary then started in the retail seed business as a compliment to their other farming operations. This, too, was destined to grow in size. After some years, he was designated as a service center for other dealers, which complimented his own seed sales. He was honored for 60 years in the seed corn business in 2005. In 1975, they built a new home in Geneva while Sheldon continued his farming operations until 1985. He then became a full-time farm seed retailer, a business he thoroughly enjoyed. As he old saying goes: “You can take a boy out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the boy,” was a true expression when it came to Sheldon. Sheldon loved talking with people—especially about agricultural subjects. Many friendships were formed with his seed-related people; and he and Mary enjoyed many trips with them. He always maintained a great interest and concern for young people, serving as a 4-H leader and helping with the FFA over the years. He was always proud of becoming the second FFA member from the Geneva Chapter to be named a State Farmer in 1943. Music was as natural as breathing for Sheldon and Mary. As a child, the evening’s entertainment was provided by gathering around the piano and singing just about any hymn, old melodies and the popular songs of the time. Upon entering high school, a fine tenor voice had developed. This was an early beginning of that wonderful and magical world of singing. As a sophomore, he was already a member of a men’s quartet, and he began to sing at funerals. A wonderful public school vocal teacher would soon place him in small groups, solo work and duet singing with Mary. Before graduating, they were singing at church services, funerals, weddings and just about any occasion. World War II was at its height, and that took many of the vocalists and musicians from the local community. For many years, he was the “community singer.” When an accompanist could be found, they sang together. As time went on, he was doing mostly solo work and Mary accompanied him. He enjoyed his Barbershop Quartet Group and was a faithful member of the church choir until 2004, when he could no longer stay in his home, but he continued singing at the weekly services held at the hospital, where he resided until his death. Of particular pride was singing Barber Shop harmony with a mixed quartet consisting of Guy and Lorene Brown, Mary and himself. Further recognition came when they won third place at the National Quartet Contest in Columbus, Ohio, in 1955. Sheldon loved to talk and he enjoyed a good joke whether it was played on someone else or himself. He was the type of person who could walk into a room of total strangers and within minutes be conversing with any number of people on just about any topic. In his lifetime, he watched much progress as time went on; from working the land with a team of horses to massive technology of today’s tractors and combines; from the time of seeing his dad hand shell corn for seed planting to hybridization and genetic modifications of seeds of today. He was well versed in fertilizers, herbicides and the altering of genes for pest control. He could recall running outside if the sound of a plane was heard above—just to see it—and witnessed man walk on the moon, travel in space. His life was full of wonderment. He was a member of IOOF No. 65, charter member of the Geneva Community Grange No. 403, Geneva Masonic Lodge No. 79 and OES No. 180. Sheldon enjoyed his son’s (Mike’s) accomplishments in school and equally as much his endeavors in the future. His grandsons gave him pleasure as he followed with interest their paths in life. When Mike and family moved to Iowa, he didn’t get to see them as often as he would have liked; but school events, athletics and other activities were always recounted by phone or letters. After Mike and Gin moved to Sutton in 2004, he became much closer to them and depended upon them more as his health began to fail. Following the death of Mary in 2000, Sheldon never recovered as he survived with a hole in his heart that only she could fill. He longed to join her in every passing day. He leaves to mourn his passing, son, Mike and his wife, Virginia; grandsons and families, Cory, Leslie, Taylor, Mason and Clay; Scott, Steph and Ellie; Adam, Melanie, Amelia and Fletcher; sisters, Velma Schneider, and Jeri Hank; sister-in-law, Daisy Barbur; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary, sister, Dorothy Schneider; numerous brothers and sisters-in-law. Funeral services were conducted from the United Methodist Church in Geneva on August 1, with the Rev. Eric Biehl officiating. Judy Ackland accompanied the Methodist choir who sang “Because he Lives” and a recording of the Methodist choir when Sheldon and Mary sang was prerecorded “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” Casket bearers were Cory Johnson, Scott Johnson, Adam Johnson, Francis Schropfer, James Ashby and Bill Bergen. Honorary bearers were Leslie, Steph, and Melanie Johnson, Jim White, Dennis Kimbrough, Everett Renken, Melvin Krause, Charles Barbur Jr. and members of Class of 1944. Interment was in the Geneva Public Cemetery. The Nebraska Signal August 2009

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Sheldon Albert Johnson's memorial?
Sheldon Albert Johnson's memorial is located at: Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA.
When did Sheldon Albert Johnson death?
Sheldon Albert Johnson death on 29 Jul 2009 in Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Sheldon Albert Johnson's memorial?
Latitude: 40.5359900
Longitude: -97.6064900

Family Members:

Parent

Albert Rudolph Johnson

(1894 - 1977)

Cecil Lena Lytle Johnson

(1898 - 1985)

Spouse

Mary Lynn Barbur Johnson

(1926 - 2000)

Siblings

Dorothy Darlene Johnson Schneider

(1919 - 1996)

Velma Cecilia Johnson Schneider

(1922 - 2022)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Geneva Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5359900, -97.6064900

2. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5184200, -97.6145000

3. Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6267014, -97.5674973

4. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4668999, -97.7097015

5. Chelsea Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4808006, -97.4882965

6. Fairmont Catholic Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6394005, -97.5689011

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4816700, -97.7295400

8. Holy Cross Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6150017, -97.7108002

9. Grafton Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6157990, -97.7106018

10. Shickley Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4166985, -97.7082977

11. Glengary Pioneer Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4518100, -97.4544100

12. Salem Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3945000, -97.6733000

13. Bohemian Brethren Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5098300, -97.4058300

14. Roe Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6912000, -97.5955000

15. Harmony Cemetery
Strang, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3788986, -97.5381012

16. Fairview Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4817009, -97.8133011

17. Ohiowa Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4235992, -97.4428024

18. Exeter Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6521988, -97.4364014

19. Horton Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6911011, -97.5025024

20. Bohemian National Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4818993, -97.3878021

21. Saint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery North
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4213982, -97.4253006

22. Kasak Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5393000, -97.3683000

23. Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4091988, -97.7767029

24. Summit Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3656006, -97.6913986