Gary T. Johnson graveside service at salem lutheran ccemetery on 3.5.2022

Gary Theodore Johnson, 84, of Ozawkie, Kansas, peacefully passed from this life Friday afternoon February 25, 2022, with his loving family by his side at home.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. March 5th at Meriden United Methodist Church, 100 Dawson St, Meriden, Kansas. The service may also be watched live at facebook.com/meridenunitedmethodistchurch.  A military graveside ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on March 5th at Salem Lutheran Church, 2590 Navajo Rd, Axtell, Kansas.  Gary was born on September 26, 1937, at a farm north of Vliet's, Kansas, to Ted and Lucille Johnson. Gary’s parents moved to Axtell, Kansas, in 1940 where he attended grade school and high school and lettered all four years in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. Upon his graduation in 1956 he joined the Air Force.  On June 15, 1957, Gary married the love of his life, Eileen (Vandorn) Johnson. The highlight of his military service was their two-year tour of duty on Guam. Upon discharge from the Air Force in 1960, he attended Washburn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1963. He taught social studies and coached at Dover, Centralia, and Sabetha High Schools. In 1965 and 1967 Gary and Eileen’s family grew with the addition of their two children, Brent and Sharilyn, who he loved spending time with, as well as hunting and fishing.  In 1968 Gary left teaching and became a salesman for Team Sporting Goods in Topeka, and in 1972 he joined the sales team of the Arch Billmire Company selling to the sporting goods dealers in Nebraska and Kansas. In 1977 he was promoted to Regional Sales Manager and the family moved to Olathe, Kansas. In 1985 he was promoted to Vice President of Sales for the company and moved to Reno, Nevada. He retired in 1999 after which he and Eileen enjoyed many trips to Europe and the Pacific as well as summers at Lake Almanor, California, and winters in Tucson, Arizona, where he pursued woodcarving and silversmithing. In 2005, he and Eileen moved back to Ozawkie, Kansas, and have enjoyed many friendships, golfing, and fishing.  Gary is survived by his wife Eileen, son Brent Johnson (Lisa), Manhattan, KS, daughter Sharilyn Bainter (Bill), Reno, NV, sister Joyce Dorner, Orlando, FL, four grandchildren: Carissa Johnson, Topeka, KS, Coleman Johnson (Rachel), Osage City, KS, Kara Bainter Warren (Jacob), Reno, NV, Ryan Bainter, Reno, NV. Gary was preceded in death by his father Ted Johnson, mother Lucille Johnson Thompson, stepfather Audley Thompson, sister Betty McAtee, brother Roger Johnson.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meriden United Methodist Church, Salem Lutheran Church, or Wounded Warrior Project, c/o Barnett Family Funeral Home at PO Box 602, Oskaloosa, KS 66066.