James Charles Johnson

Born on October 6, 1922 in South Bend, Indiana, he was a son of Carl Arvid and Dolly May (Delyea) Johnson. He married Mary Katheryne McDaniels on August 28, 1943 in Saint Louis, Missouri. She preceded him in death on November 27, 2024. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Carl Aldien Johnson and two sisters, Agnes Marie (Cammilie) Munge and Diana (James) Hill.

He is survived by one son, Roger Scott (Deborah K. Tinney) Johnson of Pekin; two grandchildren, Matthew (Jennifer Hueser) Johnson of Pekin and Nicholas (Kelli Rinkenberger) Johnson of Pekin and one great-grandchild, Sonya Belle Johnson of Pekin.

He was a 1940 graduated from Pekin Community High School. Jim worked at the Orange Store before starting at Caterpillar Inc. in 1941. He went through the Apprenticeship Course working in various departments retiring on January 1, 1983 as a tool crib foreman in the East Peoria Plant after 42 years of service.

Jim served in the Armed Forces during World War II. He enlisted in the Glider Planes program and trained in Indianapolis, Indiana. The program was cancelled, and he came home to work at Caterpillar. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, in Saint Louis, Missouri for Basic Training. While there, he was married at the Lutheran Service Center. Jim was in Radio School and on to Madison, Wisconsin to train. While he was there he passed the test to get in Air Cadets and went through Whittenburg College in Springfield, Ohio for training and then to San Angelo, Texas, where Mary Kathryn joined him and then on to Pampa, Texas for the final phase where he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to B-25 Bomber School in Waco, Texas. He was given orders to pick up his crew in Kansas City, Missouri when the war ended and his orders were rescinded, and he was sent to a Pilot Pool. He was there a month or so before choosing to return home to Pekin and Caterpillar Inc. During this period he also flew P-51 Fighters for the Air National Guard.

After returning home he was a life member of the Pekin Elks Lodge # 1271, past President of the Pekin Archery, Peoria Skeet and Trap Club, NRA, Life Member of the American Legion of Bartonville, Charter Member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pekin and Caterpillar Retirees Club. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, trap shooting, archery, golf, working in his shop, yard work and playing banjo. Jim was proud to have received the very first Eagle Scout Certificate in the city of Pekin with Boy Scout Troop # 66.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 25, 2025 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Visitation will be one hour prior, at the funeral home. Pastor Stephen Barnes and Terry Johnson will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions in honor of Jim may be directed to the Our Savior Lutheran Church of Pekin, 2223 Sheridan Road, Pekin, IL 61554 or the Greater Peoria Honor Flight, P.O. Box 5072, Peoria, IL 61601.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.