Harlan Johnson

Harlan Duane Johnson age 96, of Frankfort, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born May 7, 1930, at the Mrs. R.S. McGhie Hospital in Frankfort, Kansas, the son of Virgil W. and Theodora (Vandorn) Johnson. A lifelong resident of the Frankfort area, Harlan proudly called it home throughout his life.

He attended Lincoln District #51, Frankfort Grade School and Frankfort High School, proudly graduating with the Frankfort High School Class of 1948. Harlan never missed a class reunion until this past year. In his school days, he rode horseback, walked or bicycled to class until high school, when he joined a Model A carpool driven by Delores Swanson Polson, who picked up neighborhood children along the way.

During his senior year, Harlan won first place in a statewide FFA individual judging contest and was awarded a full scholarship to Kansas State University, where he planned to study veterinary medicine. When his father suffered a broken back in an accident at the Vliets Co-op elevator, Harlan was needed at home. His life in farming began early, and he found deep satisfaction in caring for the land - a love he shared with his family. Even in his later years, he could often be found checking fields or riding along in the combine. Harlan also operated an insurance agency, where he enjoyed visiting with customers and seeing colleagues at insurance conferences and events over the years.

On November 11, 1950, Harlan married E. Joyce Wiseman at Salem Lutheran Church in Axtell, Kansas. He often joked that because their wedding day fell on Armistice Day, it was the day the rest of the world stopped fighting and they began. Their devotion to one another was extraordinary. Harlan and Joyce celebrated 73 years of marriage before Joyce preceded him in death on December 25, 2023. Together, they traveled to all 50 states and abroad, sharing many adventures and crop tours through the years - often in his shiny new red Ford truck.

Harlan was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church and served in many roles throughout the years.

He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. For many years, he looked forward to annual fishing trips to Canada, and one year he even convinced Joyce to join him - only to have her catch more fish than he did.

One of Harlan's favorite places was his cabin by the pond, a place he called his "heaven on earth". He leaves behind a lasting legacy of love for the outdoors, stewardship of the land, and stories his family will cherish always.

Harlan was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Joyce; his sister, Elaine Johnson Stauffer; and his granddaughter, Victoria Frances Johnson.

Harlan is survived by his four children, Pam and Joe Horigan of Frankfort, Steve and Mary Johnson of Frankfort, Mark and Janice Johnson of Vermillion and Sheri and Marc Edwards of Kansas City, Missouri; his sister, Joyce Hazelton of Topeka; eleven grandchildren, Melissa McDonald (Jeremy), Nathan Johnson (Jaden Castinado), Alex Johnson (Abigail), Megan Sandberg (Ryan), Kelly Horigan (Wyatt Correll), Kara Horigan (Luke Seematter), Ryan Johnson, Dana Krivanka (Paul), Courtney Worden (Parker), Allyse Dowell (Jake) and Jason Edwards; 10 great grandchildren, Chase and Maggie McDonald, Lennox and Wilder Johnson, Avery and Conner Sandberg, Amelia, Kira, Luke and Theodore Krivanka, with two more great grandchildren on the way.

Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:00pm, Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Salem Lutheran Church, south of Axtell with Pastor Jeff Swanson officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Salem Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harlan Johnson Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date and may be left in care of the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home, PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.