Joe was born 12 miles from Chillicothe, Mo. on his mother’s farm on Dec. 21, 1932. He died on his little farm three miles from Ozark, Mo. on Oct. 3, 2026.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Christine (Bowling) Johnston, of the home in Ozark, and four children: Christina Ann Johnston, Lebanon, Mo., Rebecca Lin (Johnston) Raines (Paul), of Waynesboro, Va., Michael Lee Johnston (Marla) of Plymouth, Mich., and David Keith Johnston (Andrea), of Lone Jack, Mo. Also four grandchildren: Kristin (Raines) Sanders (Steven), Williamsburg, Va., Katheryne (Johnston) Kramer (Tyler), Burleson, Texas, Jared Johnston (Jillian), Boonville, Mo., Luke Johnston (Amanda) Lansing, Mich. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Cora and Julia Sanders, Williamsburg, Va.
Joe served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean conflict.
He was a very talented carpenter, crafting many pieces of furniture and building two houses with his sons. He especially enjoyed being outside, mowing his ten-acre farm with a tractor as late as three weeks before he died. He wrote two books (The Hill Culture) historical novels about mules. He had a beautiful bass voice and sang in church choirs from age 14 to 85. He played guitar and sang at the Ozark Senior Center for many years. He would only attend a church that had a choir and enjoyed the wonderful choir at Selmore Christian Church, where he and Donna attended the last five years of his life.
Arrangements made by Adams Funeral Home, Ozark, included a memorial service at Selmore Christian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Interment and graveside service were at Rock Branch Cemetery, Tina, Mo. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.
Joe will be missed by many friends and extended family.
