August 25, 1927-August 5, 2008
Rusty was born and raised in western Illinois spending his youth fishing and hunting and driving a truck for his dad on his ice route.
 Russell (Rusty) Johnson |
After his discharge, he returned to the Midwest and settled in Burlington, Iowa and began his 42-year career as an over-the-road, long-haul truck driver.
He moved to the Chicago area in the early ’50s and worked for several truck lines before finding a home with PIE (Pacific Intermountain Express) in 1956.
He retired from PIE in 1988 after having driven some 8 million miles. His career took him to all the lower 48 states.
After the death of his wife, Carol, in 1993 he started coming to California to visit his daughter and finally moved to Half Moon Bay in 1996.
He fell in love with the ocean and Half Moon Bay.
He became active in the American Legion Post 474 and served as an officer. He was very proud of his 40-year membership.
His parents, Francis and Wayne Johnson, two infant children, his wife Carol, his daughter Brenda Sears and brother Dale Johnson preceded him in death.
His wife Charlotte whom he met in 1998 and married in 2000 survives him.
His daughter Linda Johnson and son-in-law Greg Reynolds of Sebastopol, his son and daughter-in-law Jim and Sharon Johnson of Glendale Heights, Ill., son-in-law David Sears of Sebastopol, daughter Cindy Kerr of Burlington, Iowa, daughter and son-in-law Kelly and Darrel Penrod of Cumberland, Wash.
Stepson Erik Noraas and his family of Monticello, Minn., and stepson John Noraas and family of Bemidji, Minn. also survive him.
He has 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 7 step grandchildren.
He loved his job and often said he couldn’t have done anything else, he was a happy satisfied man.
He loved his family and his country.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 28 at 1 p.m. at Post 474 of the American Legion.
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