Ret. Maj. Larry Eugene Johnson

GALVA – Ret. Maj. Larry Eugene Johnson, 54, of Galva, died Thursday, April 1, 2021 at his home.

A Private Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated at St. John Catholic Church in Galva with Fr. James Yeboah officiating. Burial will follow at Galva Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. A public visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 7 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva. Memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial to be established. The funeral home will maintain compliance with COVID regulations and requires that all guests wear a mask for the safety of all those attending. Due to the capacity limits at the church, the funeral will be live streamed at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 8 via the Rux Funeral Home Facebook page.

Larry was born May 11, 1966 in Geneseo, IL, the son of Gary Lee Ericson and Kathleen Margaret (Brown, Larry Dean) Johnson. He married Debra Sue Hall on November 10, 1984 at the First Christian Church in Kewanee. Survivors include his wife of Galva, his father, Larry of Galva, his mother, Kathy of Galesburg, three children; Stephanie Michaela (Jared Michael) Wexell of Galva, Samantha Kay (Zakary Alan) Swanson of Davis Junction, IL and Tyler Eugene Johnson of O’Fallon, IL, two sisters, Angela Marie (Willie) Burford of Galva and Melissa Ann (Brad) Fox of Dahinda, IL and his six grandchildren; Jayden Alexander, Peyton Elizabeth, Grayson Wayne and Jocelyn Grace Wexell and Parker Sue and Zane Jeffrey Swanson. Preceded in death by his birth father, Gary Ericson.

He graduated from Galva High School in 1984. He was a decorated serviceman enlisting in the U.S. Army in June of 1984 and was honorably discharged in June of 1989.  At that time, he joined the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and attended Bradley University obtaining his BSN in Nursing.  He would continue his service in the U.S. Army until June of 2000, obtaining the rank of Captain. Upon his separation, he would go on to serve a short stent in the U.S. Navy. Following the attacks on September 11, he commissioned with the U.S. Air Force in December of 2003 being stationed at Scott Air Force Base and obtaining his master’s degree.  He proudly served his country until his retirement in September of 2010 as a Major. During his 20-year military career he worked as surgical nurse, emergency/trauma clinical nurse, as well as a flight nurse, serving multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq and receiving many honors for his dutiful service along the way.

Larry was a loving husband, caring father and a proud papa. All that he did was for his family, his friends, and his country.  No matter who you were or where you came from, you were always welcome in his house.  He’d serve you once, and then you were family.  His sense of humor lit up a room and he never passed up the opportunity to share a story or tell a joke. The loss of this amazing human has affected so many, near and far.  We will forever remember his laugh, his hugs, and his wisdom.

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