Behrle, Johnnie Ray

Johnnie Ray Behrle, 55, of Tipton, Iowa and Columbus, Neb., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, in the Laird Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada, from a helicopter accident. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic, Tipton. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. Burial will follow in Woodbridge Cemetery, Buchanan.

Johnnie was born July 26, 1954, in Cedar County, Iowa, to Fred Behrle and Leona Martha (Bishop) Behrle. He was the seventh of nine children. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1973. He worked in Cedar Rapids for a number of years at the Wilson's Plant (Farmstead Foods). When the company closed, John started work as an excavator. Being an excavator lead him to Columbus, Neb., where he started his own company, Behrle Construction, Inc. Johnnie was an avid outdoors man. He loved to boat, camp, fish and hunt.

His is survived by his son, Johnathan (Amy) Behrle, Homestead; daughters, Jill (Tim) Champliss, Tipton, and Kellie (Curt) Jeffries, West Branch; grandchildren, Jonathan H. Behrle, Jaidyn Behrle, Jacxon Behrle, Homestead, and Colin Chambliss, Tipton; his mother, Leona Martha Behrle, Tipton; sisters, Martha “Leona” (Chuck) Nation, Wheatland, Wyo., Susan J. (Paul) Swearengin, Oakham, Mass., and Irene Falkner, Cedar Rapids; brothers, Thomas T. Behrle, Beaver Dam, Wis., Gerald W. Behrle, Lowden, Dewey (Cheryl) Behrle, Tipton, Eddie (Joan) Behrle, West Union, and Mike (Barb) Behrle, Pineville, Mo.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his son, Spc. David Behrle on May 19, 2007; and his father.