Ivan Johnson Sr.

Ivan Leo Johnson Sr., 87, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Marble Hill, Mo., passed away Sunday, June 30, 2013, at the home of a daughter in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 10, 1925, in Gravelton, Mo., son of Clarence Leo and Beulah Oleta Whitener Johnson. He first married Wilma Marie Abernathy. Later he married Jo Miinch.

Johnson was a coach, teacher and principal at Lutesville-Woodland, Meadow Heights and Bell City and retired from Kelly schools.

An avid baseball fan, he played professional baseball with the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Dodgers before military service in 1943. In 1986 he was inducted into the Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. He volunteered many years with the American Legion teams in the area, area Little League and Babe Ruth teams, and started the Lutesville School baseball team in 1953.

From 1943 until 1946 he served in the Marine Corps.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church at Gravelton.

Survivors include two daughters, Debbie Long and Julia Chandler of Cape Girardeau; a son, Ivan "Johnny" (Beverly) Johnson of Marble Hill; grandchildren, Carrie (Clint) Tracy, Sarah (Rory) Kipper, Josh (Libby) Johnson, Emily (Packy) Johnson, Katie (Travis) Blanton, Luke (Lottie) Johnson and Lauren (Boone) Gaines; and great-grandchildren, Theodore and Oliver Tracy, Jacob and Rebecca Johnson, Addie and Annie Johnson, Cole, Sarah, Ellie and Sophia Blanton and Kase Johnson.

His parents, a son-in-law and a stepgrandson preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at the chapel, with the Rev. Rick Pettey officiating. Burial will be in Baker Cemetery near Marble Hill.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery at Gravelton or Alzheimer's Association.