LARRY EDWARD JOHNSON Indianola Larry Edward Johnson, 81, passed away, Sunday, April 7, 2013 at The Village Health Care Center in Indianola. Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 at the Trinity United Presbyterian Church with services to be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 10 at the church. Interment of cremains will be held at a later date in the I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Larry was born in Valley, NE to Harry and Teresa Johnson on February 28, 1932. He was a teacher and coach before going into private business. He was a veteran of the Korean War, a member of Warren Lodge #53 A.F. & A.M. and had served on the Indianola City Council. Larry taught and coached from 1960 to 1983. In 2009 Larry was inducted into the Simpson Coaches Hall of Fame. He was a trusted mentor who developed life-long relationships with his athletes, co-workers and even some opponents. He had a tremendous impact on the lives of those around him. He will be remembered as Simpson's head baseball coach for 19 seasons, from 1961-68, 70-74 and 78-83. He also coached football, track and wrestling and was the first coach for the women's basketball program in 1974. Larry was also a Hall of Fame inductee at Omaha University and the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame. As a football player he was an All-American at Omaha University and went on to sign a free agent contact with the San Francisco 49ers in 1953. He graduated from Omaha in 1954 and received his master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1959. In 1980, he worked at the Lake Placid Olympics, which was a highlight in his life. Survivors include his wife Pat; daughter Kimberly (Mike) Hays of Macomb, IL and their children, Bryan, Tucker and Kathryn; son, Edward (Stacey) Johnson of Indianola and their children, Trey, Teyt and Tyce; brother, Clair Johnson of Roanoke, TX and several nieces, nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Jane Pitman and brother, Harry "Fitz" Johnson. Memorials may be given to a Library of your choice, Trinity United Presbyterian Church Building Fund in Indianola or Simpson College Baseball.
