Donald Claire Johnston was born on August 25, 1935, in Adair County, Iowa, the son of Claire Wayne and Mary Lillian (Sackett) Johnston. He passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at The Lakeside Village in Panora, Iowa, at the age of 89.
Don was born, raised and farmed around the Greenfield area all of his life. He attended country school at Grand River and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1953. On February 28, 1954, he was united in marriage to Verna Marie Lane in the Greenfield United Methodist Church. To this union three children were born: Gale, Steven and Marilea. He farmed east of Greenfield, raising livestock and row crops.
Don was a member of the Greenfield United Methodist Church, Adair County Sheriff Reserve for many years, served on the REC and Adair County Fair Boards and was Lee Township Trustee. He enjoyed camping, fishing, dancing, card parties and hunting, especially deer hunting with all of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Steven Johnston; grandson, Courtney Johnston; and three brothers, Wayne, Bobby and Merle Johnston.
He is survived by his wife, Verna Johnston of Greenfield; son, Gale Johnston and wife Kally of Greenfield; daughter, Marilea Devereaux and husband Jeff of Ankeny; daughter-in-law, Gwen Johnston of Greenfield; 8 grandchildren, Benjamin (Angelique) Johnston, Morgan (Christopher) Mund, Angela (Jason) Handy, Brooke (Jackson) Bissell, Jennifer (Shaun) Shelley, Lauren (Kyle) Meadows, Adam Johnston and Trenton (Whitney) Devereaux; granddaughter-in-law, Kathy Johnston; 17 great grandchildren, Lane Johnston, Audrey Johnston, Cora Johnston, Marshall Padilla, Aliyah Shelley, Syanne Handy, Kheera Handy, Beckett Bissell, Jayden Bissell, Chase Mund, Claire Mund, Grace Meadows, Gabrielle Meadows, Layla Meadows, Benson Devereaux, Saxton Devereaux and Phoenix Devereaux; two sisters, Wanda Lauer and husband Duane and Iona Van Vleet and husband Richard; brother-in-law, Francis Lane and wife Phyllis; other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com. An Open Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Don Johnston Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.
