Pat Johnson performs a beard trim and haircut for James Wering, Tama, in his shop in Toledo on Friday, March 18. Pat is retiring on April 2 after a 23-year career in the hair care profession. Chronicle/John Speer

After 23 years in the hair cutting and styling business Toledo barber Pat Johnson will cut his last head of hair on Saturday morning, April 2. That happens to be the work day which Pat likes best. He says the business on Saturdays has “the barbershop atmosphere.” And that’s because he says the women beauticians are usually not working and “the male customers can take over.”

He will be turning it all over to the new owners, his son and daughter-in-law Jamie and Anna Johnson on April 4.

Anne has worked in Pat’s Barber and Salon since September, 2004. “I confident that the professionalism and enjoyable hair care experience will continue, Pat said last week.

Pat, 64, went ot work in 2013 after attending the College of Hair Design in Waterloo, his hometown, Previously, he had lived in Toledo for some 19 years and had worked as an equipment operator for the Iowa Department of Transportation during which time he remembers “I moved a lot of snow.”

Upon completion of training, Pat worked for Steve Bishop’s Barber Shop in downtown Toeldo for a short time, then went to work for former Toeldo barber Dan Butler in his shop in waterloo for a year. Haircuts for men were $7 then, Pat recalls. He said when he started about 35p percent of his clientele were women.

Pat Johnson, a member of the Toledo American Legion Color Guard and Post?commander Elizabeth Ledvina fold the U.S. Flag during a Veterans Day Ceremony at South Tama High School on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2015. Chronicle/John Speer

He then was an instructor at the College of Hair Design, also for a yea,r before deciding to return to this area.

He joined Ron Hill at Hill’s Barber Shop in Tama in 1996 and bought the business in 1998. In 2005 he purchased the Appelgate Plumbing nad Heating Building on South County Road (U.S. 63) in Toledo.

There he expanded to a four station shop. Currently Dani Chamberlin, Darcy Gropper, his daughter-in-law Anne and himself staff the business.

“I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity being around a lot of people and to be in a position to provide good service to both communities. I’ve enjoyed that a lot,” Pat said. “There are some perks to being self-employed and also some drawbacks.”

Following high school Pat entered the U.S. Navy and served in the rank of RM3 form 1969-72. He was stationed south of Naples, Italy, for one year at NATO headquarters Following that he attended Naval Advisers School for a year in California preparing for deployment in Viet Nam. He say at that time President Nixon decided certian personnel would no longer be sent there as the Viet Nam War was attempted to be wound down.

In retirement, Pat has plans to “get out on my boat.” He says he loves to fish and hunt turkeys. Attending grandchidren’s sporting events and extra curricular activites is also a favorite pastime he said.

He also serve as member of the Reinig-Friedrich Post 72 Toledo American Legion Honor Guard.

He says he “is grateful to everyone who inspired and supported me over the years and will be forever thankful fo all the friendships and loyalty.”