William “Rick” Johnson, age 87, of Jasper

Rick was born in Vincennes, Indiana, on March 7, 1937, to Milo and Rhoda (Rinehart) Johnson. He married Rose Coomer on January 7, 1961, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Vincennes, Indiana.

He was a 1955 graduate of Vincennes Lincoln High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. His passion was baseball and he is still well-known for arguably one of the longest home runs ever hit in Vincennes Lincoln High School history as he hit a ball at the old ballfield over the band shell and into Gregg Park.

Rick proudly served in the United States Army and National Guard. He enjoyed telling stories of his short time as a Metropolitan Police Officer in Washington, D.C.He was a member of Shiloh Church of Jasper in Jasper, IN, where he took pride in teaching a high school Sunday school class alongside his wife, Rose. The students he encountered were very inspiring to him as they engaged in God’s word. He also proudly sang in the church choir and quartet.

Along with his father, Cy, He owned and operated Johnson Home Improvement for many years. He spent his latter years as an independent insurance salesman.He enjoyed fishing, and hunting, especially rabbit hunting. He also loved sports. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Purdue fan. Anyone who truly knew Rick was accustomed to hearing him break out in song at any moment in time. His sense of humor always had people laughing.

He was a loving husband of 63 years to his surviving wife, Rose (Coomer) Johnson, Jasper, IN. Along with his wife, Rick has two surviving children, Jami (Harry E. Jr.) Hutton, and Craig (Kimberly) Johnson, both of Jasper. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Katie (Nick) Ferguson, Samantha (Eric) Harrison, Rebecca Hutton, Abigail (Eric) Kiefner, Harry Charles Hutton, Madeline Johnson, and Nathan Johnson, six great grandchildren, one sister, Beatrice (Dick) Johnson, Vincennes, IN, and one brother, Jimmy (Beverly) Johnson, Vincennes, IN.

Besides his parents, preceding him in death are two infant sisters, Jacqueline Sue and Nancy Ann Johnson.

A funeral service for William “Rick” Johnson will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Shiloh Church of Jasper in Jasper, IN, with burial to follow in Shiloh Cemetery. Pastor Dan Sinkhorn will officiate.A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service time at the church on Saturday.