Lester O Johnson

Lester O. “Les” Johnson, age 80, of Florissant, passed away Sept. 28, 2012, at the Pillars of North County with his loving family at his side. He was the dear husband of Lois “Joann” Johnson; beloved father of Lester Johnson, Jr., Donna Jean (Dennis) Sullivan, David Wayne Johnson , Douglas Allan Johnson; and dear grandfather of Lisa, Shawn Patrick and Thomas James Sullivan. He is also survived by a sister Georgia (Willis) Ruhl, and was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister, Oral, Charlie and Doris.

Those who didn’t know Les are probably familiar with his work. As a surveyor for various engineering companies, Les had a hand in the layout and construction of area landmarks including the Gateway Arch grounds, Missouri Botanical Garden , Six Flags and various housing developments, to name a few.

“He loved his work and to him it wasn’t work,” said his wife Joann. Even in retirement Les would get out his surveying equipment, eager to help a friend or neighbor on a small job and rarely taking payment.

Les loved his time with family, too, and enjoyed traveling by car because he never liked flying. Trips took him across the United States where Les preferred to stay off the beaten path and travel the back roads. One of his favorite attractions was “collecting” state capitals. The rule was Les wouldn’t claim to have visited a state capital unless he went inside and toured the building. He made it to all of them except Oklahoma, Alaska, Michigan and Hawaii. Right next to Missouri, why not Oklahoma?

Joann laughed, “It was one of those things. We drove past it 100 times and would always say we’d get it next time.”

Les was also a golfer and a bowler. He started caddying at Normandy Golf Course at about the age of 12 or 13 which instilled in him a life-long love of the game.

Described by his family as very outgoing and sociable, family and friends will gather over the next few days to remember a unique and much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. His funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at Alexander-White-Mullen Funeral Home, 11101 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, Mo. 63074 Interment will be in Laurel Hill Memorial Park with Military Honors. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, October 1, 2012.