John Johnson (Courtesy Iowa Department of Public Safety)

John Johnson (Courtesy Iowa Department of Public Safety)

John Johnson

Missing Person

John Johnson
Age at Report: 71
DOB: October 23, 1925
Weight: 190 lbs.
Height: 5′ 07″
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Incident Type: Endangered / physical
Missing From: Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Missing Since: December 11, 1996

 

Polk County in Iowa
Polk County in Iowa
 
Des Moines in Polk CountyDes Moines in Polk County

John Johnson, 71, was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department on December 11, 1996.

He is described as a 5-foot-7 white male weighing 190 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Johnson was last seen wearing a black fur hat with earflaps, a brown tweed coat, a royal blue hooded sweatshirt, blue pants and a belt. He wears glasses.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety lists his classification as “Endangered/Physical,” meaning a person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating that his/her physical safety is in danger.

Information Needed

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the Des Moines Police Department at 515-283-4800 or the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse at 800-346-5507.

Sources:

17 Responses to John Johnson

  1. Mary I would like to know where you get your information from ?this was my grandpa And I don’t know who you are so I will see you in around our family I don’t see how this helps find my grandpa!

    • Mary Johnson says:

      He’s my grandpa. I know this information because my mom was married to his son John Jr. And no you won’t see me around don’t threaten me. There’s a reason my mom left because you and your mom are fuddy duds. Total trailer trash. I don’t care if you’re my cousin. You’re gnarly. 🤢🤮 My mom and siblings moved far away from your families crazy AZZ. Good thing because I might have ended up as trash like you 😂 are you saying that you want to fight me? Ok tubs.

    • Mary says:

      Also how do you know he’s dead? Are you subconsciously admitting that your family has something to do with his disappearance? Because I hear y’all do. 🤔🤔 Wondering if it has something to do with drugs…..

  2. I’m just curious while everybody’s saying all this stuff about the dead and it doesn’t even pertain to Anything about their disappearance Thought this was supposed to help find them not to bash upon the dead and missing

  3. Sherry Sheets says:

    I am not sure how Lisa’s comments is helping this case? are you serious with your slander and lies? Stop telling lies for the truth cuz you definitely was not around the family or I would know you.

    • Mary Johnson says:

      I am John Thomas Jr Johnson daughter. My grandpa is John Thomas Johnson sr. I am trying to find all of my family. Please contact me at 4022496613

  4. Lisa Baber says:

    Married to Rose, not made to Rose.

    • Patrick Kerrigan says:

      Lisa, thanks for the information on his family. I would assume that maybe his being crazy, might have been related to his military service. If it is correct that he served in the Marines during WW Ii, he definitely was exposed to combat.

      Many men who served in combat suffered what used to be called combat fatigue. Also, they refer to many Marines, who served on some of the islands of having the thousand yard stare.

      My late father spent 18 months in combat, was wounded once, knocked unconscious at least three times fighting in Italy and Southern France.

      He got a disability for his mental injuries. He later volunteered at the VA, along with my mother. I volunteered at the same VA which led to a job.

      It was the same VA he spent time for cancer in the late 1950’s.

  5. Lisa Baber says:

    The John Johnson that you have pictured was crazy for many years he had many children he was made to my aunt rose Thomas. His children’s names were Johnny Johnson Chrissy Johnson Roseanne Johnson David Johnson and Jerome Johnson. He and rose also had a little girl named Christina before all of those kids. Rosen John joined the pentacostal church and they did not believe in doctors so they let four-year-old Christina die. I think all of the remaining children turned out to use drugs such as LSD and heroin.They constantly commit crimes got arrested moved and changed sexual partners weekly. John and rose raised their children in such a filthy trash filled house that it should have been condemned. Rose had one sister that would still be young enough to answer your questions. Her name is TrudyThomas she married David Goodman who killed himself and I don’t know who she married after that Rose has one more sister still alive named Bonnie Viola Garland who lives in Altoona Iowa. I cannot leave any information if you want me to be respectful because Johnnie Johnson was not a respectful person however he did have The Bible memorised backwards and forwards. John and Rose never worked. They were the opitame of lazy, crazy.

    • My family may not be perfect in anyways but they were not on lsd and herion and changing partners every week Shame on your bashing on my family and my missing grandfather. Don’t state what u think for the truth! God have mercy on your souls! The cruelty and hurtful mess they you are leaving in our families memories destroying them as people parents Christian if u have nothing nice to say just be Quiet! They didn’t kill their child! How is this positive to the case?

    • Sherry Sheets says:

      First off know your facts before you bash people, secondly who the hell are you cause you definitely are not close family to Rose or John Because I have no clue who you are. They both worked at one point , and they did use doctors at one point but you would know this is you truly was family ( I mean someone that was around or that matter in our families life) John had issues from the war. His children did not do herion or lsd, they didnt change partners every week. The fact That you tell this horrible set of lies tells me you are a bitter old lady that has nothing better to do then bash dead people. you need to stop telling lies for the truth.

    • Chelsey johnson says:

      Maybe you should speak on what you know cause you clearly didn’t know my grandma or my grandpa. And for you to speak on a missing/dead person is disgusting.

  6. Patrick Kerrigan says:

    Did Mr Johnson, have any family? Also did he have any medical issues. Also, there is no mention of him having a vehicle. I hate when there are few details.

    • Patrick Kerrigan says:

      I searched him on Ancestry, and found that John Thomas Johnson, was born on October 23, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio. This is according to his State of Iowa WW II veteran bonus. He served in the U.S. Marines Corps from October 8, 1943 until March 9, 1946. It does not mention what unit or division he was attached to.

      I could not find a marriage record. I assume he may have used the VA for his medical care. However, there is a SS Death Index entry showing he died on March 15. 1998. Someone did not wait long in my book. His last residence was Des Moines, Iowa.

    • Mary Johnson says:

      Yes. My grandpa had a lot of family. I Am one of many kids. John Thomas Jr Johnson was my dad. He died in August of 2008 from kidney failure. I have 7 other siblings. I don’t know about the vehicle thing. My mom left my dad when I was 1 because my dad John Thomas Jr, was very abusive mentally and physically. My grandpa John Thomas sr had very bad mental issues. He had schizophrenia. John my dad had a very rough childhood. I have an uncle, Jerome, David and a aunt christianna and Roseanne.

  7. Vesta Stammer says:

    There is a John R. “Johnny” Johnson who is listed in the obituary of the Muscatine Journal, February 22, 2011. The birthday is shown as nearly the same as the John Johnson missing on your website, which is October 15, 1935. They also look similar, per the pictures shown.

    It is a common name, but just thought I would send this information along to you.

    Thanks,
    Vesta Stammer

    • Jody Ewing says:

      Thank you for your comment, Vesta. I’ve compared the two John Johnsons, and though there’s a remarkable resemblance in the eyes, the “missing” John Johnson has a somewhat wider nose and his forehead is narrower than the Burlington John Johnson. Both were born in October, but the missing Des Moines J.J. was born in 1925, and the Burlington J.J. in 1935.

      I read the Burlington J.J.’s obituary you referenced, and given the huge success he had with his career (and given how long the other J.J. has been listed on the IDPS’s website), I’d think someone from the Burlington J.J.’s family would have contacted the IDPS earlier to let them know.

      Then again, the Des Moines J.J.’s birth date and year could have been listed incorrectly, and there’s always the chance they could be one and the same. Cases end up being solved when people like you do exactly what you did, which is bring details and questions out into the open for further checking, so I thank you for taking the time to write and ask about it. I’ll keep an eye and ear out and let you know if I find out anything else. All best, Jody

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