Thomas Albert Johnson

Thomas “Tom” Albert Johnson, 84, of Ankeny, IA, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2026, under hospice care from complications of congestive heart failure. In his final days, he was able to spend time with family, who visited to share memories and say goodbye.

Tom was born on October 25, 1942, in Decorah, IA, to Earl “Hi” and Gertrude (Ludeking) Johnson. Although he was younger than most of his classmates, he excelled in sports at Decorah High School.

After graduating, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two and a half years stationed in France, first at Dreux Air Base and later at Camp des Loges, home of U.S. European Command outside Paris. He served during some of the tensest years of the Cold War, including the Berlin Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the assassination of President Kennedy.

Following his military service, Tom moved to Des Moines, IA, and began his career in 1964 at Pratt Paper Company, which soon became part of Butler Paper. Over the next 41 years, he stayed with the company as it became part of Great Northern Nekoosa, Georgia-Pacific, and Unisource, retiring in 2005. Tom was a gifted salesman and was frequently recognized as the top paper salesman in his company and across the industry.

Tom married Linda Grindeland on June 8, 1968, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, IA. They welcomed their only son, Brian, in 1974.

Tom loved fishing, especially for trout in the streams of northeast Iowa. He was also an avid sports fan who enjoyed watching games on TV and in person. He was a loyal fan of the Iowa State Cyclones, the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Braves, whom he followed from their Milwaukee days to Atlanta.

Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda; his son, Brian (Jami); his grandchildren, Kole, Logan, and Morgan; his brother, Donald (Elaine); and 13 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Gertrude; his brother, Gary “Ben”; and his infant sister, Charlotte.

A committal service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the columbarium at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Quilts of Valor Foundation (qovf.org) or the Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial Association (winneshiekvetsmemorial.org).

Arrangements are by Ankeny Funeral Home & Crematory of Ankeny, IA, and Helms Funeral Home of Decorah, IA.