Kenneth Johnson, age 57, of Topeka, Kansas, and formerly of Cherokee, Iowa, died on Thursday, March 16, 2006. 

Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 20, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller, with Reverend David Lyons officiating.  Burial with full military rites will be in the Schaller Cemetery.

Ken will lie in state at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake on Sunday, March 19, 2006, from 4:00-8:00 p.m.  The family will receive visitors between 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Ken was born on January 16, 1949, in Le Mars, Iowa, to Gustav and Ruth Johnson.  Ken received his primary and secondary education in the Schaller School and graduated from Schaller High School in 1967.  He continued his education at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he received his associate degree.   He was awarded a B.A. in accounting from Fort Lauderdale University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

On April 22, 1972, Ken was united in marriage to Peggy Paulsen in Storm Lake, Iowa.  They were blessed with two sons, Scott and Ryan.

Ken served his country with honor in the United States Army from 1971 until 1973.  He was employed as a C.P.A. by Ryun Givens and Company in Cherokee, Iowa; later moving to Colby, Kansas where he was employed by Kennedy and Coe.  Ken held the position of Dean of Fiscal Affairs with Colby Community College from 1989 to 2004.  After moving back to Cherokee, Iowa, in the fall of 2004, Ken was employed with Burkhart and Dawson CPA’s prior to being diagnosed with cancer.

Ken was active in his community, having served as chairman and member of the board of directors of Medical Alternatives in Colby; on the advisory committee of Citizens Medical Center in Colby; and was a former member of Rotary International in Colby.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.  He enjoyed playing golf, woodworking and spending time with his family and grandchildren.  Ken will be remembered as a loving husband and devoted father and grandfather.  He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. 

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Peggy of Topeka, Kansas; sons Scott (Julie) Johnson and Ryan (Tabitha) Johnson, both of Topeka; grandchildren Andrew Johnson, Travis Johnson and Kyleigh Johnson, all of Topeka; mother Ruth Johnson of Storm Lake, Iowa; sisters Carol Regennitter of Vancouver, Washington and Elaine Georg of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and brother Roger Johnson of Spencer, Iowa.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Gustav Johnson, two sisters and his granddaughter, Emma Grace Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Colby Community College Endowment Association or the American Cancer Society.