Duane “Buckwheat” L. Johnson, 93, died June 28, 2015, at the Golden Years Health Care Center in Walworth.
He was born in Mingo, Iowa, to Harland and Anna Marie (Whitney) Johnson Wolfram, and was the beloved husband of Annie (Smith) Johnson, all of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his best friend and older brother, Earl, two other brothers, Gale and Billie, and his stepfather, Frank Wolfram. In addition, 10 of his wife’s sisters and brothers and several of their spouses preceded him in death.
He was also preceded in death by very special friends whom he held dear to him his whole life – members of the five musketeers from grade school near East Troy whom he stayed friends with all of his life, Ellsworth and Evelyn (Wolf) Ferry, Lee Wolf, Bruce Houghton, Alby and Marion Hahn, Ken and Elma Christenson, Mike and Helen Utesch, Hubert and Sylvina Spray, Bill Beetstra, Russell Luth and Andy Anderson, and a special nephew, Ron Johnson.
Buckwheat married Annabelle Smith on March 24, 1945. He adored her and missed her sorely after her death in October 2011. They shared 66 years together on the home farm in Sharon where he farmed for more than 70 years. Upon retiring from farming, Buckwheat worked several years for Stade Auction Service. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father, grandpa and great grandpa, a successful farmer and a good neighbor to all. He loved farming, fishing, coffee with friends, playing cards, telling jokes, but most of all he loved his family. He also had a very special smile and twinkle in his eye.
He is survived by four daughters, Patricia (Bob) McNeely, of Brooklyn, and their two children; Jim (Jennifer) McNeely, and their three children, Jeffrey (fiancé, Nicole Stuessy), Jamison (fiancé, Amanda Veum), and Jillian (Christopher Malkow); and Brenda (Abel) Schultz and their two children, Kevin, and Cody ( Monika Buol); Peggy (Bob) Kirkpatrick, Harvard, Ill., and their three children, Lynn (Josh) Dutton, Darien, and their three children, Alysha, Maggie and Jacob; David (Jennifer) Kirkpatrick, and their five children, Michael, Grace, Sarah, Shawn and Jayna; and Susan (Josh) Johnson, and their three children, Dylan, Hailey and Parker; Pauline Leseberg and her special friend, Bud Cavins, Delavan; Diana (Charles) Pearce, of Walworth, and their three children, Anna (Tom) Loomer, Charlie (Hope) Pearce, and their four children, Brytinn, Titus, Eli, and Gideon, and Michelle (Kyle) Kenney, and their three children, Faith, Luke and Jacob.
He is further survived by sisters-in-law, Eleanor Hardt, Elaine, Mary and Margaret Smith and special friends, Al and Dorothy Dickerson, Irene Dowey, Wilbur Schultz, Lorraine Luth and Herb Cunningham, nearly 100 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews whom he loved and could always make laugh, and many other good friends.
Buckwheat’s family wishes to make a special mention of the wonderful nurses, aides and other employees and the Austin family at Golden Years retirement village, assisted living and health care center.
Visitation will be at Toynton’s Walworth Funeral Home, 328 Kenosha St., Walworth, from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. A viewing will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Brick Church of Walworth, N1509 Brick School Road, Walworth.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the family to place a permanent bench at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
Toynton Funeral Home is assisting the family.
