Robert Dean Johnson

Robert Dean Johnson, 82, of Newton, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Accura Health Care of Newton—West. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Baxter Congregational United Church of Christ. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at the church. There will be a private family burial at Liscomb Cemetery following the luncheon.

Robert was born May 21, 1937, in Liscomb, the son of Melick and Evelyn (Bixby) Johnson. He lived in Davenport/Rock Island area until 1949, then he and his four sisters moved to his grandparents’ farm, east of Liscomb. He graduated from Liscomb High School in 1955. On Dec. 31, 1955, Robert and his high school sweetheart, Phyllis McKibben, were married and they lived in the Liscomb/Conrad area. He worked for a couple of years in Marshalltown at a foundry and Melbourne Food Locker before working for Paul Franzenburg at Franzenburg Locker and Charlie’s Market, both in Conrad. Loving the grocery and meat business, they purchased the grocery store in Baxter and moved there in 1969. They owned and operated the Baxter Food Center for 20 years. He then worked at Hy-Vee in Newton and retired after 15 years.

He was a past member of I.O.O.F. Lodge in Liscomb, served three years in the National Guard and was active in various church activities. He loved all sports, but his favorite pastime was entertaining his grandchildren when they were younger.

Robert is survived by his wife, Phyllis; four children, Michael Kevin (Jody) Johnson of State Center, Barry Dean (Terri) Johnson of Polk City, Kimberly Sue (Scott) DeGraff of Colfax and Jody Anne (Scott) Vogt of Gold Canyon, Ariz.; nine grandchildren, Jason Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Crystal (Garrett) Schroeder, Jamie (Taylor) Detrick, Eric (Tessa) Johnson, Amy (Jake) Niederhauser, Kyle Schnell, Brittany (Cecil) Marshall and Joseph Beeler; two step-grandchildren, D.J. (Allison) Beeler and Kodey (Ashley) Roseland; 10 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Marilyn Conlee of Tuscon, Ariz., Ranvae Baker of Richmond, Texas and Betty Rimpson of Kansas City, Mo.

He is preceded in death by his parents Melick and Evelyn; parents-in-law, Lowell and Doris McKibben; sister, Mary Lou Foster; son-in-law, James “Jim” Schnell; and brothers-in-law, Paul McKibben, Darrell Conlee, Tom Foster and Don Baker.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Hospice of Midwest or Baxter Congregational United Church of Christ.