Lester Marlin Johnson

Services for Lester Marlin Johnson, 79, Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Neb., with the Rev. David Sites officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.Mr. Johnson died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was born July 12, 1927, at Hildreth, Neb., the son of Alfred and Matilda Jensen Johnson. He graduated from Hildreth High School in 1947. He was a longtime resident of Holdrege and moved to Lawrence in May 2006.Mr. Johnson worked for 33 years with C.A. Christiansen Construction Co. He owned and operated Johnson Construction until he retired in 1995 because of health issues. He married Joyce LeDawn Grote on Oct. 24, 1948, in Wilcox, Neb. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Karmazin and husband Wayne, Lawrence; two sons, Marlin Johnson and wife Patti, Lexington, Neb., and Neil Johnson and wife Kiptara, Woodstock, Ill.; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Johnson, Salina; two sisters, Mabel Unsinn, Los Angeles, and Milrae Seeman, Ozark, Ala.; a sister-in-law, Mary Virginia Johnson, New Braunfels, Texas; 14 grandchildren, Christine, Chad, Amber, Tara, Ryan, Stephanie, Christopher and Cody Johnson, Kelly and Katie Karmazin, Traci and John Lyons, and Cathy and Mike Hill; six great-grandchildren, Kamdyn, Mason, Emily, Keelie, Marshall and Julia; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Daniel; and a brother, Kenneth.Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 tonight. The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of the funeral home, 401 Burlington St., Holdrege, NE 68949.Online condolences may be sent at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.