Earl Clifford Johnson, 94, of Villa Park, IL, passed away peacefully at home on July 18, 2026.
Born on June 4, 1932, in Zion, IL, he was the son of Clifford and Olive (Wright) Johnson. Earl honorably served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as an aviation electronics technician aboard submarine hunter-killer aircraft. Following his service, he founded a landscaping company which he proudly operated for the rest of his life.
An adventurous spirit, Earl loved exploring the country in his motorhome with his dogs to visit family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed skiing, hiking, scuba diving, running, and kayaking. Earl was also a deeply dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Villa Park, where he was immensely proud of his 48 years of perfect attendance, spanning 2,496 consecutive weekly meetings.
Earl was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Anne; his son, Steve; his parents, Clifford and Olive; his siblings, Vince, Marge, Carol Ann, Paul, Rosemary, Spenser and Kenny.
He is survived by his children, Patty (Paul) and Dave; his grandchildren, Jeff (Kat), Luke, and Elizabeth; his great-grandchildren, Alysha, Jessica, Kyle, Delilah, Cadence, Hannah and Coralyn; his brothers, Roger and Allen; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Inurnment, September 14, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood, IL 60421. Celebration of Life, September 15, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Villa Park VFW, 39 E. Saint Charles Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181.
