Donald Russell Johnson

Don was born June 15, 1928, in Warren, the son of the late Chase and Margaret Lawson Johnson. He was a 1946 graduate of Warren Area High School. He had enough credits as a senior in high school to stop attending classes in January, so he could stay home to work on the family dairy farm. In 1952, he married Jackie Kibbey and they bought the farm at the end of Frantz Road that later became known as HemView Farms. For over 40 years, he worked side-by-side with his son, Dean, on the farm until Don retired eight years ago.

Don was a director of the Warren Electric Cooperative Inc. (former known as Rural Electric Association [REA]) for 52 years. He was a director on the Warren County Fair board for 38 years. He was involved when the fair was still in Youngsville. Once the fair moved to its current location, he helped build all the draft horse and dairy barns. Don served as co-chair of the draft horse pull for 45 years with his late brother in-law, Walter “Ben” Kibbey, and then his teamster mentee, Jeff Reagle of Warren. Don also served on the Dairylea Milk Cooperative and Scandia Cemetery boards.

Don was a 40-year-member of the Stateline Draft Horse Club. He loved Belgian draft horses whether working with them on the farm, logging, or competing in a pulling contest. He was run over by a team of horses, pinned under a fallen tree when logging, and had a tractor drive over himÃ-but he kept going.

Over the years, many youngsters in the area worked at the farm milking cows or making hay and referred to him as Mr. Johnson. Over his lifetime, he acquired several nicknames: Charlie, the Colonel, Daring Donald, Teflon Don, Hollywood, and Cy to name a few.

Don lived in his green Dickies with his shirt collar turned up and his ball cap tilted to the side. He was a quiet man with a quick wit. Hay loaders were told to watch the bales coming out of the baler kicker. He’d see when someone wasn’t paying attention, angle the baler just right, hit’em with a hay baleÃ-then he’d grin. However, you didn’t want to upset him. He could scale a ladder up to the hay mow and his extra-large Swede hand would have you by the collar before you could say, “come up here and make me.”

Don didn’t play sports in school, however, he loved to watch his sons wrestle and play football, and his daughter run track. At a wrestling match, he and Jackie would sit in the top row as Don would film his sons’ matches. If they weren’t being aggressive, one would hear a booming “move” from him.

Don refused to fly, but that didn’t stop him from traveling. He and his bride drove to Iowa for their honeymoon, “just to see the country.” He drove to Anaheim, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev., for national REA conventions. Don would attend horse pulls or horse sales around the country and Canada with his draft horse buddies. He enjoyed travels with his brother-in- law, Len Kibbey in the winter to the Western Stock Show in Denver or to Florida for draft horse pulls. He would travel to Arizona to stay with his sister-in-law, Barb Babb; North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio and other states to visit his family.

The family wants to express our gratitude for the loving care Don received at Kinzua Healthcare.

Don is survived by his son, Dr. Dennis Allen (Lissy) Johnson of Warren; granddaughter, Adrienne (Ryan) Parker and great-grandchildren: Hudson and Charlie, all in Atlanta, Ga.; and step-grandchildren: Kristen Conn, Panama City Beach, Fla., and Haley Conn, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and his daughter, Diedra Adair (Tom) Harkenrider and granddaughter, Erin, Freeville, N.Y.; and stepson, John (Candy) Hawley, Charleston, WVa. He’s also survived by daughter-in-law, Melinda Johnson of Warren, and grandsons: Harrison Taylor Johnson, Madrid, Spain, Marshall David Johnson, London, UK and Colter Dean (Paige) Johnson of Warren; sisters-in-law: Barbara Kibbey Babb of Mesa, Ariz., Eleanor Rowland Johnson of Russell, and Hilma Smith Kibbey of Warren; and brother-in-law, Len Kibbey of Grand Valley, Pa.; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was proceeded in death by his wife of 58 years, Jackie Kibbey Johnson; brother, Darrell Chase Johnson; sister, Carmen Johnson Adams; infant son, David Albert Johnson and son, Dean Andrew Johnson; and nephew. Darrell Adams.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Glade Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, 14 Hohman Road, Warren, PA 16365 or Johnny Appleseed Festival Draft Horse Pull, 318 South Main St., Sheffield, Pa. or Warren County Fair Draft Horse Pull, 230 Barton Run Road, Pittsfield, PA 16340.

There are be no calling hours and the family will have a private burial service at the Scandia Cemetery.