Jackie L. "Jack" Johnson, 78, Osawatomie, died Monday, February 22, 2010, in Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

He was born Nov. 16, 1931, on the family farm southwest of Beagle where he grew up. His parents were John Patrick and Blanche Oleta Bratton Johnson. He attended local schools and graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1949.

He worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad in the shops until he joined the U. S. Air Force in 1951. He was married to Wilma Marie Birchard in Osawatomie on Nov. 25, 1951.

They returned to Osawatomie after his discharge in 1955. In 1958 he began his career in insurance sales and management.

He was with Bankers Life and Casualty Co. for almost 20 years. He was the district manager in North Platte and then Omaha, both in Nebraska. In 1980 he began selling for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Nebraska. At the time of his retirement in 1998 he was with Preferred Mutual Assn. in Omaha.

When he and his wife retired in 1998, they returned again to Osawatomie. He attended the First Baptist Church in Osawatomie.

He enjoyed all sports, especially baseball, which he played as a young man. He was an avid golfer until his health began to fail.

Those preceding him in death include a son, Larry Ray, who died in 1971.

Survivors include his wife Wilma Johnson of the home; two sons, Stephen Lee Johnson of North Platte and Tony Ray Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz., his daughter Diana Marie Johnson of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his sister Betty Cohen of Leawood; two grandsons and two great-grandsons in Colorado.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 12, at the First Baptist Church in Osawatomie. Visitation will be held from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m.prior to the service scheduled for 11:00.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie or the Jack Johnson Memorial Fund in care of Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, P. O. Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064.