Paul A. Johns, of Iola, WI, age 104, died Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at St. Michael Hospital in Stevens Point with family and friends by his side.
He was born in Yeoman, Indiana on October 11, 1913 to the late Roy and Ethel (Hildebrand) Johns. Paul married his high school sweetheart, Elvie Kallio, in 1934. They were married for 55 years. Paul’s passion was flying. He began his 66 years as a pilot in 1929 when he soloed in a glider at age 15. In the years that followed, he soloed in a Curtiss Junior, received a limited commercial certificate, joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, acquired radio repair and aircraft mechanic certifications and worked at the airport that would become Glenview Naval Air Station. He then began instructing pilots in instrument flying on the Link trainer, first for the Navy and later for United Airlines. In 1939, Pan American Airways hired him to establish an instrument training program for pilots ferrying aircraft to Europe via South America, once this was a success he fulfilled his dream to become a line pilot, flying DC-3s to the Caribbean and South America.
In 1944, he transferred to Pan American’s Pacific fleet, flying the PB2Y3 flying boat and the fabled Boeing 314 Clipper “Flying Boat” from San Francisco to Honolulu. As a senior pilot and master navigator, Paul completed 220 flights on the longest overwater route flown by any airline. A growing family brought Paul home to Racine, WI in the late 1940s where he became a pilot for J.I. Case and Walker Manufacturing. Twenty years passed and facing retirement as a corporate pilot, Paul transferred to Walker’s research department, where he worked in acoustics and invented techniques in sound engineering that later served as the foundation for modern noise cancelling headphones. He finally retired in 1977.
In 1984, Paul and Elvie returned to Wisconsin again to be closer to family, and within four years Paul began work on building his own plane, as this was the one thing in aviation that he hadn’t yet done. The Kitfox kit arrived early in 1989 and was signed off by the FAA later that year, in October. Paul had many adventures and close calls through-out his flying career, and at the age of 85, he grounded himself, sold his Kitfox, and focused on earthly pursuits like Ham radio, computers and enjoying time with family and friends.
At 96 years old, Paul was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments as an aviation pioneer. In November of 1989, he lost his best friend and wife of 55 years. Elvie had stuck with Paul through the good times and bad and they loved each other very much.
Paul is survived by his daughter, Sandra Ruffolo (Mike) of Yucca Valley, CA; grandchildren: Andrew (Amanda) Chud of Seattle, WA and Paula Chudd (Duncan Saffir) of Portland, OR; great-nieces Ann Marie Dahlbo of Zion, IL; LeAnn Johns-Hebert (Charles) of Manawa, WI and Darla Johns-Mitchell (Larry) of Farmer’s Branch, TX; as well as many loving great-great-nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Elvie; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Elaine Johns; and brother and sister-in-law, Oscar and Ida Kallio; nephew Robert Kenneth Johns, and great-nephew David Kenneth Johns.
The family wishes to recognize all of the wonderful friends who were so important Paul (you know who you are – thank you), especially Bill Kinsman, who was truly a best friend; his loving caregivers, Robin Christiansen and Doreen Bigalke, who allowed him to keep his independence and brought him such joy and laughter; and his beloved tiger cat, Tiffany, who was his cherished companion.
In accordance with Paul’s wishes, a public funeral will not be held. A celebration of his life will be scheduled at the airport named after him: Central County Airport – Paul Johns Field (Iola, WI) in Summer 2018. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the EAA Young Eagles. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com. O’Connell Funeral Home, Little Chute assisted with the arrangements.