Roger Johnson

Roger L. Johnson, 86, of Bettendorf, IA (formerly of Moline, IL) passed away on September 11, 2024. Roger was born on September 12, 1937 in Duluth, Minnesota to Edmund and Sylvia Johnson. (He lived into the last day of his 87th year, so let’s just say he was 87.)

Cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2024, at Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory, Ltd., Moline. A Celebration of Life gathering will follow the memorial service.

Roger’s Kindergarten report card listed a few concerning gaps, but concluded “Roger is very good at art.” The gaps resolved themselves and Roger’s talent only grew.

His other notable trait was a love of adventure, which filled his life with wonderful memories and a cast of interesting people. Roger’s childhood included several planned and unplanned encounters with bears--including one occasion in which he climbed into a polar bear’s enclosure at the zoo.

He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1956 and—following a tour in the Air National Guard—he attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After earning his bachelor degree, Roger had planned to pursue offers of fine art programs in Europe, but made a spur-of-the-moment decision to accept a job opportunity with Meredith Publishing in Des Moines, Iowa. His career in graphic design enabled his wanderlust, eventually taking him to IM Pei in New York , General Motors in Detroit, and Deere & Company in Moline, Illinois.

His most harrowing and rewarding adventure was raising his six children. He and his first wife, Mary, would embark on road trips to the West with a van full of kids and endless imagination. To alleviate boredom, he offered his kids one-sixteenth of a jelly bean for every dead animal they saw on the highway. That kept the kids quiet and taught them fractions. Genius.

In 1996, Roger found the love of his life and permanent copilot when he married his second wife, Glenda. The pair often surprised themselves by how much fun and enjoyment they could pack into their days, especially the ones spent travelling circuitous routes off the beaten path.

Roger was preceded in death by Glenda and his eldest son, Erik, who passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer, his parents, a brother, Weldon, and sisters, Sandra and Ardath.

He is survived by his children: Kristine Johnson of Edina, Minnesota, Kurt (Melissa Hebert) Johnson of Flossmoor, Illinois, Matt (Julia O’Donnell) Johnson of Austin, Texas, Debbie (Josh) Jackson of Le Claire, Iowa, Patty Johnson of Long Beach, California, Doug (Laura) Wells of Milan, Illinois, Wendy (Scott) Wood of Rock Island, Illinois, and Shelly (Mike Ernster) Wells Cain of Davenport Iowa; his wonderful grandchildren: Georgia, Graham, Nora, Duncan, Malcolm, Samantha (Jonathon), Carly (Kurt), Molly (Josh Dyar), Allie (Steven), Branson (Brandi), Tanner (Bailee); and great-grandchildren: Drew, Molly, Brailey, Isabella, Kinleigh, Jolene, Luke, Lylah, Landon, Avalee, and Millie.

A special thank you to the wonderful care from the staff at Compassus Hospice and Quartet Assisted Living and Memory Care.