Robert Edward Johnson

Bob was born in Rockwell City, Iowa, the son of Rev. Paul and Myrle Johnson. He graduated from Osage High School class of 1959. Bob was a member of the Green Devil’s track and basketball teams where he made lifetime friendships. He was co-captain of the basketball team, finished second in the Iowa State Track Championships in the two-mile run and was the Osage High School “Boy of the Year” for 1959. In addition to being an athlete, Bob was an avid reader of history and had a keen interest in current events, the economy and markets. He received a B.S. Degree in economics from Columbia College in New York City, class of 1963.

Bob’s business career started at Chase Manhattan Bank, NA in NYC, where he eventually headed the European Sector of the International Investment Advisory Division. One of the highlights of his career at Chase came in 1968 when he represented David Rockefeller on a three-month special assignment throughout the Middle East designed to establish relationships there. His extensive investment experience also included institutional sales at Smith Barney & Co. and as a Senior Investment Officer at J.& W. Seligman before serving as the Chief Investment Officer for Westinghouse Pension Investment Services. In 2002 he joined Johnson Custom Strategies, Inc., in Greenwich, CT as Chief Market Strategist where, in addition to advising on macro investment strategy, he penned the firm’s popular and widely distributed Quarterly Market Summary. He retired to Palm Beach, Florida in 2018 with his wife, Mary Ann. They relocated to Greensboro, NC in June, 2022.

Bob was predeceased by his brother, Larry R. Johnson of Charles City, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Johnson of Greensboro, NC and his niece, Viktoria Mergler of Spokane, Washington.

A celebration of remembrance will be held in Osage, Iowa at a future date.

Memorials may be directed to the Osage Education Foundation; reference The Robert Johnson Boys’ Basketball Fund (P.O. Box 82, Osage, IA 50461).