Robert M.L. Johnson, 88, the former mayor of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, April 13, 2009 at his home in Cottage Grove Place from a brief illness.   Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 17th at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, temporarily located at 3100 F Avenue NW, with Reverend Bill Warhover of Echo Hill Presbyterian Church presiding.  Private family entombment will be held in Cedar Memorial Mausoleum.   Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16th, and for an hour prior to services Friday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, temporarily located at 3100 F Avenue NW.   Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

M.L. is survived by a son Rex (Lisa) Johnson of Marion and one daughter Kris (Jerry) Croatt of Ossian;  grandchildren Stacy (Rick) Nielson of Coralville, Wendy (Keith) Huinker of Festina and Mike Moellers (Jamie Christofferson) of Polk City, John (Abbey) Croatt of West Des Moines and Karen Reicks of Cedar Falls;  great-grandhchildren Nicolette and Noah Burger of Davenport and Ashley Huinker of Festina, Kellan and Romey Croatt of West Des Moines and a baby Huinker great-grandchild due in May; a grandson in law Chris Burger of Davenport;  two nieces Barbara (Arlen) Gerhold of Atkins and Judy (Ron) Thenhaus of Cedar Rapids; and a nephew Ron Sandler of Cedar Rapids as well as numerous great grand nieces and nephews.  Robert M.L. was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Phyllis Wiles and Helen Hope, a granddaughter Laurie Burger, a grandson in law Dana Reicks, and a nephew Edward Sandler.

Robert M.L. was born in Des Moines on January 6, 1921, the son of Max L. and Nell Lanphear Johnson.  When he was a small boy the family moved to Chicago and then later to Cedar Rapids where his father was an office manager at T.M. Sinclair & Co. (Wilson Packing).  He was a 1938 graduate of Franklin High School where he met Edna Mae Haldy in the 10 ^th grade.  M.L. and Edna were married on July 20, 1941 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.  They were married for over 56 years until her death from ALS, on October 31, 1997.  M.L. always remembered his partner as the best thing that ever happened to him.   He attended Coe College until his senior year.  M.L. served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific theater reaching the rank of 1 ^st Lt. in the 10 ^th Corps.  After returning from the service he worked at the Eldora Herald-Tribune until he was invited to join the Waterloo Daily Courier as a reporter and columnist.  In 1952 he was hired by the WMT Stations as a radio and television reporter and "on air" newscaster, later becoming the news editor.  In 1957, he was appointed to the Cedar Rapids City Council as Safety Commissioner. He was always proud of the one-way street program he initiated with council approval.  M.L. served as Cedar Rapids mayor from 1962 to 1968.  During his three terms as Mayor, he initiated Urban Renewal that essentially rebuilt the downtown area.  After his term as Mayor he was the City Manager for Marion from 1971 to 1973.  In 1978, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives until 1982.   He was a member of the Airport Commsission from 1983 to 1989, during which time the new airport was built.

M.L. was involved in many groups and organizations in the greater Cedar Rapids area for many years. As a member of Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church, he served as a trustee.  He was a member of Mt. Hermon Masonic Lodge, El Kahir Shrine Temple, Goodfellows, Optimists, Executives club, High 12, Elmcrest Golf and Country Club, the Veterans Memorial Commission, Delta Phi Epsilon fraternity, and the Governors Commission for State and Local Governments under Governor Harold Hughes.  He also served as a trustee for Meth-Wick Manor and was the past president of the United Community Service.   He served as chairman of American Equity Investment Trust and a director of Mid-America Mutual under Life Investors and Aegon.  Twice he served as president of the Regency North Condominium Association and was a member of the Cedar Rapids Board of Realtors when he represented Condon Real Estate.

During his life work he was named Boss of Year by Criabwa Chapter of the ABWA in 1965.  He was awarded the DeMolay Legion of Honor and was honored by the C.R. Press Club with the first "Upper Case Award".  The Sales Executive club awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1963 and the Optimists named him for a Recognition Award.  He was published six times in government periodicals.  One of his favorite activities was writing "Guest Columns" and letters to the editor of the Gazette where he once worked as a "sports stringer" for 10 cents a published inch.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Lukes Pet Pals Scholarship Fund and or to MDA.