Johnnie Creamer

Johnie Max Creamer of Rainier, WA, died Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Olympia WA.  He was born December 14, 1939, to John Daniel Creamer and Mary Elizabeth Harmon Creamer in Paris, Texas.  He graduated from Pine Tree High School in Longview, Texas in 1957 and joined the Army in July of 1958 after attending Kilgore Junior College for one semester.  He spent a year in Ascom City, Korea before being sent to Ft. Lewis, WA.  It was while stationed in Washington that he was set up on a blind date and met Karen Aline Sprouffske, and they were married on July 28, 1961, in Yelm, WA.  They made their home in Greggton, Texas where Johnie worked with his father at their family Texaco station.  During this time their only child, his darling daughter, Jana was born in 1962.  He later worked for Petroleum Helicopters on the Gulf in Louisiana.  They moved back to Washington State at the end of 1964.  Johnie joined the Washington National Guard in February of 1966 from which he retired in December of 1999, with a total of 36 years of military service.  His passion was flying, and in the guard he worked as a helicopter mechanic, pilot, flight engineer, and finally in drug interdiction.  He was a private pilot and instructor pilot in his free time.  He and Karen were also part-owners in Sprouffske U-Cut Tree Farm, which he worked at throughout the seasons.  After retiring, he and Karen enjoyed traveling to Iowa twice a year for extended trips to visit their daughter and her family where they help with the planting and harvest on their corn and soybean farm.

Johnie adored his family and loved being a dad, grandpa, and great grandpa.  He spent his free time in his early years coaching softball, flying in his Cessna 172, camping, and reading.  In his retirement years, he enjoyed his tree farm life, creating woodworking projects in his wood shop, golfing with the golf gang, and morning coffee with his coffee buddies.

Johnie was preceded in death by his parents and two infant sisters, Peggy Ann Creamer and Wanda Oletha Creamer.  He is survived by his wife Karen Creamer of Rainier WA, daughter Jana (Tom) Gangestad of Clarion IA, grandchildren Joseph (Kaylyn) Gangestad of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Elise Gangestad (Matthew Frank) of Minneapolis, MN, Max (Alaina) Gangestad of Ames, IA.  Great grandchildren Bergen, Ashton, Aurora, Finnian, and Solveig. And one brother Daniel Bill Creamer of White Oak, Texas.

Memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society-Relay for Life (Connolly’s Crew) or Special Olympics of Texas.