Harold E. Johns, age 94 of Clinton, Mo. passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 1, 2015, in Clinton, where he resided almost all of his many days.

He is survived and dearly missed by his three children and their spouses, his four grandchildren and their spouses, and his eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 71 years, Rheabelle McDowell Johns, in 2011. He was also the longest living of the five children in his family.

Harold's family consists of son James Johns and his amazing wife Faith; daughters Becky Raysik (Jim); Jill Adams (Jon Goodman), Kansas City; grandchildren: Jill Janelle Wareham (Clint); Jeremy Johns (Erika); Jarrod Campbell (Christian) and Sarah Duncan (Casey). Great grandchildren: Sierra and Sydney Wareham; Ethan and Neysa Belle Johns; Isaac and River Duncan; and Hannah Campbell and Kaydith Maddox.

Mr. Johns was an active man of many roles. He was a businessman, fisherman, craftsman, military man and family man. He was also a rock hound, active in Boy Scouting, his church, Woodmen of the World, Kiwanis Club, Masons, Henry County Museum and in a close social circle of six couples that was active from high school days until the passing of the various members. Mr. Johns was one of the last to go.

He was a man who overcame adversity and still maintained a cheerful demeanor and a positive attitude. His mother died when he was quite young and his father's subsequent remarriage provided little comfort. His older brother and sister sustained the family and Harold was able to complete his schooling, which included playing football at Clinton High.

A harder circumstance to overcome occurred when he was 55 years of age. He was severely injured in a work-related accident, hospitalized for months, had several major restorative surgeries and a long convalescence. Advised by his doctors that he might not walk again, Harold proceeded to live a mostly normal and highly active life for almost 40 more years.

He was a woodworker extraordinaire, making numerous pieces of fine furniture for his children and grand children, as well as some novelty items, like five foot tall working lighthouses for outdoor display for his wife and children.

As a businessman, he and his brother-in-law, the late Robert McDowell founded McDowell & Johns in Bob's garage before moving to the Clinton Square. The company provided electrical contracting services and also sold appliances. It was impossible to drive anywhere within a wide radius where Harold could not point out locations that McDowell & Johns had wired.

As a military man, Harold served in WWII. He started as an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air Forces and became a B-25 bomber pilot. He soon became an instructor and spent the war training other cadets. He continued to fly in the National Guard and retired as a Major after more than 20 years.

As a fisherman, Harold was a regular at Bennett Springs State Park and spent many weekends there, including one opening day when he caught the "Lunker", the largest fish of the day. The prize fish is mounted and still on display at his home.

His social circle, described as "The Saturday Night Pinochle Club of Henry County" operated for nearly sixty years. It was memorialized in a history narrative by Mrs. Johns, and the group was also featured in a front page article in The Kansas City Star.

The group not only played pinochle together, they built rooms on one another's homes, had regular family picnics and wiener roasts, went camping together, and never, ever missed an opening day at Bennett Springs where the men fished and the women shopped in nearby stores.

Services are being handled by Vansant Mills Funeral Home of Clinton and held at the Clinton United Methodist Church, 601 South Fourth Street, Clinton, MO 64735, on Thursday, February, 5th at 11:00 am, visitation at 10:00 am preceding the service. Interment will be in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO. Donations are requested for Clinton Animal Shelter (C.A.R.E. 1307 North Washington Street, Clinton, MO 64735), the Clinton Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com