William "Bill" Wayne Johnson (Lebanon)'s Obituary
William “Bill” Wayne Johnson, son of Everett and Mary Jane Appleberry Johnson, was born March 23, 1952, in Lebanon, Missouri. He departed this life Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Polaris Carmel Hills Nursing Facility, in Independence, Missouri, at the age of seventy years, four months, and twenty-one days.
On May 30, 1985, he was united in marriage to Denise Rifenburg, and they shared the last thirty-seven years.
He was preceded in death by his father; and a sister, Janice Johnson.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Denise, of the home, in Stockton, Missouri; three daughters, Amy Mattia, and her husband, Nathan, of St. Louis, Missouri, Summer Waheed, and her husband Ryan, of Holly Ridge, North Carolina, and Heather Steinmark, and her husband, Steven, of Lebanon, Missouri; a son, Dereck Johnson, and his husband, Nate of Springfield, Missouri; six grandchildren, Emerson, Huxley, Alayna, Xander, Noah, River, and one more soon to be joining the family; his mother, Mary Jane Johnson, of Lebanon, Missouri; his brothers, Bobby Johnson, and Cecil Johnson and his wife Edith all of Lebanon, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised all over Texas and California while his father worked in construction. At the age of seventeen, he joined the United States Navy and served his country faithfully for several years. He was on the USS Sunnadin, and the USS Tillamook, and was the youngest sailor to steer a ship through the Strait of Hong Kong. Eventually, he was honorably discharged as a Seaman 3rd Class. He then made his home in Lebanon, Missouri for awhile before going back to Texas, where he worked at various jobs. On June 30, 1984, he met his future wife, Denise, while cruising uptown in 1985, they were married in Miami, Oklahoma. They made their home in Lebanon, Missouri, where Bill worked as a lead man in the press shop for the Durham Company. Bill and Denise had made their home near Stockton, Missouri for the last few years.
Bill made his profession of faith in Christ and was baptized into the Community Baptist Church near Lebanon.
He enjoyed fishing and rebuilt rods and reels. He also liked to hunt and do woodworking projects, such as making bird houses. He also liked collecting knives and refurbishing them. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and was a caring friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family will hold tight to the wonderful memories he made with them during his seventy years.
A memorial has been established to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and donations may be made at the funeral home.
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