Delwyn ‘Del’ Johnson, 77

Published 9:52 am Friday, March 4, 2016

Delwyn “Del” Johnson, 77, of Stewartville, Minnesota, died surrounded by family, at his home in Stewartville on March  2,  2016, following an illness with pulmonary fibrosis.

Delwyn ‘Del’ Johnson, 77

Delwyn Dean Johnson was born on June 22, 1938, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, to Menard and Meta (Stork) Johnson. He moved with his family as a young boy to Elkton, Minnesota, where he grew up, attended Elkton schools, and graduated from Elkton High School in 1957. He began his love of athletics in Elkton and played football, basketball and baseball in high school, earning 11 letters. Del was married on June  2, 1957, at the United Methodist Church in Dexter, Minnesota, to Roxanna J. Rabine. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Endicott, New York for six months, where Del went for training with his new employer, IBM. They returned to Minnesota where Del began a 35-year career with IBM, living in Rochester and then Racine, Minnesota, for a few years. In 1964, the Johnson family moved to rural Stewartville where they raised their children and lived for over 50 years. Del retired from IBM in 1992 as a quality control manager. He began his second “part-time” careers— 10 years with Byrne Construction, refereeing middle and high school sports in the Stewartville School District, and driving for Grisim School Bus until last year. Roxy was a homemaker and worked part-time at Boyum Foods and Grisim School Bus. Del was a longtime active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville where he taught Sunday school, and served on many committees and on the church council. He was a longtime member of the Drift-Skippers Snowmobile Club, Stewartville Lions, and the Stewartville Wrestling Boosters. He truly enjoyed following high school wrestling and through his volunteering as a scorekeeper and helping with weigh-ins at the local and state level, was inducted into the Southeast Minnesota Chapter of the Minnesota State Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed snowmobiling and motorcycling, photography and videography, deer hunting, and following the Twins and Vikes. Del loved spending time with friends and family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Del is survived by his wife, Roxy; one daughter and three sons, Russell(Ruth) of Denver, Colorado, Blaine of Melbourne, Florida, Doyle (SueAnne) of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Liza (Gary) Neseth of Stewartville; 13 grandchildren, Neal (Camille) Johnson, Lucas (Elise) Johnson, Nathanial (Kaitlyn) Johnson, Corinna (Chris) Johnson, Erika, Elsa, and Eva Johnson, Derek (Jessica) Johnson, Drew and Mya Johnson, Nashia Johnson (Mitchel Baldus), Winter and Briar AnderJohn; 13 great-grandchildren, Asher, Cecele, Vienna, Boaz, August, Gavin, Georgia, Caroline, Nora, Drake, Ethan and Issac; three brothers, Dennis (Joan) Johnson of New Prague, Minnesota, Doug (Linda) Johnson of Dexter, Minnesota, and DeVern (Lina) of Rochester, Minnesota; one sister-in-law, Karen Johnson of Cannon Falls, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; great-granddaughter Gabrielle; and brother, Dale Johnson.

The funeral service for Del will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Byron Meline and Rev. Kim Cassidy officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville. Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday morning. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville www.griffin-gray.com.