George C. Johnson, age 86, of Yankton SD died Friday November 2, 2007 at the Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, SD.

A Funeral Service will be at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at Christ Church Episcopal in Yankton, SD with Rev. Jim Pearson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial of the cremated remains will take place at a later date in Westminister, CA.

Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, is in charge of the arrangements.

George Calder Johnson was born January 28, 1921 in Avon, South Dakota. The second in a family of six children, he was the son of Dr. George E. and Eleanor (Elliot) Johnson. The family lived in Avon and then Yankton while the kids grew up. George graduated from Yankton High School and went on to Yankton College. He then moved to Los Angeles and attended Aeroindustries Tech, but quit to enlist in the Navy in August of 1942.

He served in the Pacific on the USS Casablanca. People still remember him fondly as the skinny blond sailor known as "Bud." He was an aircraft mechanic and operated the catapult off of the aircraft carrier. He also taught other sailors. Thus, began his life-long love of teaching. One of his favorite memories was at the end of the war, when the ship transported thousands of servicemen from Hawaii back to U.S. soil and home.

After the war, George returned to Yankton and worked in a powdered egg factory for 55 cents an hour before venturing out into the world, becoming an instructor at Spartan Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. In 1948, he married Margaret "Molly" Hicks, of Kansas City and they settled in Lubbock, Texas, where he worked for General Motors. Here began his lifelong love affair with everything automotive.

George and Molly were married 34 years, and gave birth to Terry a daughter and Dan a son. Living first in Los Angeles, then Long Beach California, he went to work for the Automobile Club of Southern California, where he was a claims adjuster. For over 30 years, he pursued his career doing what he loved. He became a teacher and taught new claims adjusters their trade. He taught Car Care Clinics all over California, teaching the general public. He never missed an opportunity to check your oil or tire pressure when you came to visit his home, lecturing you on how you're going to burn up that engine or blow out those tires, or that so many keys on your key chain will break the ignition switch.

George was a loyal dad, attending every piano recital, Girl Scout camp, baseball game and gymnastics meet. He also supported Molly's art career, helping her set up and work at many art shows around Southern California. In later years, he was a dedicated caregiver for his parents. He never met a stranger. George could walk into a restaurant, and by the time he left, he knew the waitress's name, hometown, and what her husband did for a living, and usually even how much money he made. George often stopped and helped stranded motorists on the freeway, and received several commendations from the California Highway Patrol for his generosity.

He gave generously to his friends and many charitable causes throughout his life. For over 20 years, he and his Auto Club friends made an annual pilgrimage to an orphanage in Mexico, taking medical supplies, clothing and toys. They often stopped along the road and outfitted an entire family before heading down to Ensenada.

In 1982, Molly passed away, and George returned to Yankton for a college reunion. He met up with a childhood friend, Irene Cihak, who had been widowed for several years. Love bloomed, and in 1983 they were married and settled permanently in Yankton shortly after. They were married for 22 years until Irene's death.

George is survived by his children, daughter, Terry Albert of Poway, CA and son Dan, his wife, Robin and two grandchildren, Kirra and Ember Johnson, of Huntington Beach, CA. He is also survived by his brothers Gordon Johnson of Spring, TX, Elliot Johnson of Chico, CA, and sisters Charlotte Hagen of Oceanside, CA. Virginia Dolman of Portland, OR and Muriel Roget of Lodi, CA and 36 nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his stepchildren: Tom Cihak of Yankton, Richard Cihak of Chaska, MN, Cathy Cihak of Lake Geneva, WI, and Robert Cihak of Brier, WA and their families.