Wayne Johnson

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Wayne Donald Johnson, 85, of Austin, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at St. Marks Lutheran Home in Austin. 
He was born Sept. 9, 1924, in Austin Township to Palmer and Anna (Weber) Johnson. He attended a country school in Lyle.
Wayne served in the Armed Forces as a Staff Sergeant, Company F – 35th Infantry Regiment – 25th Division, in the South Pacific and Japan for three years and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was employed by Geo. A. Hormel & Co. for 41 years and retired in October, 1983. 
Wayne’s favorite hobby was fishing when he was not working or helping others. Wayne had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening at home, with his neighbors enjoying much of the garden produce. He also liked card games, especially Cribbage. Wayne’s gentle spirit and smile will be missed by his family and extended family at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.   
For many years he was actively involved with the Masonic Lodge; he joined Fidelity Lodge #39 in Austin on May 27, 1974; The Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite – Valley of Rochester on March 27, 1976; Osman Shrine – St. Paul, Minn.; and Unity Chapter #29, Order of the Eastern Star, Austin, Minn. on Feb. 23, 1976.  
Wayne was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie M. Johnson, of Austin; brothers, Clarence and Gollen Johnson; and sisters, Maxine Girard and Margaret Larson. 
He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Judith K.  and Ted Esse of Apple Valley, Minn., Sharon L. and Curt Hayes of Bloomington, Minn., Barbara L. and Dean Walsh of Waterloo, Iowa, Marilyn G. Johnson of Minneapolis, Christine G. and Cris Hammer of Coral, Mich.; grand children, Melina Esse and Katie Esse, Julianna Wallace, Andrew Hayes, Meghan Marsden, Chad and Vanessa Hanson, Nathan Taylor, Tia and Nicholaus Walsh, Amy Hagen and Kristina Hagen, Nicole Johnson, Stacie Smith and Aaron Hulings; great-grandchildren, Gemma and Fiona Wallace, Tanner and Simon Hanson, Jacob St. John, Isaiah Johnson, Ty Hulings and Colby Moore; sister, Mavis Madson; brother, Paul Johnson; sister-in-law, Virginia Christensen of Stewartville, Minn.; nieces, nephews and cousins. 
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 2 p.m., at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with the Rev. Karen Behling officiating. Visitation will be held at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday, May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be a Masonic and Order of the Eastern Star Service at 7 p.m., conducted by Fidelity Lodge #39, and Unity Chapter #29, Order of the Eastern Star of Austin. Entombment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Austin Post #91, American Legion will provide military rites
Organist will be Janet Gilbertson. Soloist will be Tom Klipfel.
The family prefers memorials to the American Diabetes Association or to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Arrangements are by Clasen-Jordan Mortuary.