Jerry Franklin Johnson, 85, of Bowman, Indiana, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Jasper Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Olney, Illinois to Edison and Leona Johnson on March 7, 1938.  He was a star athlete in pole vaulting at Petersburg High School, and retired from IPL in 1997.  Jerry loved to fly airplanes, building 3 of them himself, and made several trips to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin for air shows.  He was a very religious man and attended White River Chapel.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jan (Shepard) Johnson; daughter Arlena Morton; 3 grandchildren Chance, Dustin & Amanda; 10 great grandchildren Wyatt, Brenna, Sawyer, Tucker, Brianna, Hailey, Paisley, Leo, Reece & Raygen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother George Johnson, sisters Arbutus Reed & Lena Swain, and son Brian Johnson.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at O.D. Harris Funeral Home in Petersburg, Indiana, with burial to follow at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pastor Terry Kamman officiating.  Visitation will be from 10:00am until service time at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at odharrisfuneralhome.com