Clarence E. Johns

Funeral services for Clarence E. Johns age 97 of Elgin were at10:30 am Tuesday, December 2, 2006 at the Park Congregational Church rural Elgin with the Rev. Ray Avidano officiating. Music was provided by Carolyn Johnson organist. Burial was in the Park Cemetery with military honors being provided by the Elgin Am. Legion Post #229 and VFW Post #5816. Pallbearers were Matt Ruhrer, Bruce Clark, Scott Beckman, Jerry Krause, Marty Henn, Jerry Camp and Bradley Clark. He passed away Saturday, December 2, 2006 at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is conducting the services. Clarence Eugene Johns was born on November 2, 1909 on �The Homestead� in Wheeler County, the first child of Arthur and Clara May (Cunningham) Johns. He attended Little Gem School (District 105), Park Center School and graduated from Elgin High School in 1930. Clarence served in the 95th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from March 13, 1942, until he was honorably discharged on October 14, 1945, as a private first class. He served in three major battles in the European theater and was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Badge and Bronze Star Award. Clarence lived in the Park Center neighborhood and farmed with his father for many years. For many years his father kept daily records for the U.S. Weather Bureau as a Cooperative Observer, later he assumed that responsibility, retiring in 1999. He married Ann Anderson on October 14, 1982. She died on May 30, 1990. He then married Louise Camp Jonas, on October 21, 1992. Clarence moved to Elgin in his retirement and to the Neligh Nursing Center in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Louise of Elgin, her family; sisters Wilma Clark of Elgin, and Shirley Johns of Brooklyn, NY; a brother Marvin and his wife Ann of Las Vegas, NV, many nieces, nephews, and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ann, sisters; Thelma Shermer, Evelyn Tierney, brothers; Marion and Jerry.