Charles E. Johnson - Zumbrota

ZUMBROTA — Charles E. Johnson, 79, of Zumbrota, died Saturday evening, May 8, 2010, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Funeral service will be Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Goodhue, with Reverend Randall Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Goodhue. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 12, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mahn Family Funeral Home–Larson Chapel in Zumbrota, and on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Charles Edward Johnson was born on March 30, 1931, in Goodhue Township, the son of Hugo and Louise (Nordstrom) Johnson. He graduated from Goodhue High School in 1949. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. On October 4, 1958, he married Esther Mae Rammelsberg in Vinton, Iowa. They farmed for many years in Goodhue Township, retiring in 1991, when they moved to Zumbrota. He then delivered motor homes part-time for a few years. In his retirement he also enjoyed his family and many friends he met through his outings.

Farming was his life, both work and enjoyment. Esther died February 15, 2009. He was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, the Midland Co-op and Goodhue Lions Club.

Survivors include three daughters, Brenda (Russell) Johnson-Ehlers of Red Wing, Karen (Larry) Sorensen of Albertville and Nancy (David) Benrud of Kenyon; seven grandchildren, Laura (Mark) Bricker and Katie Ehlers of Red Wing, Jonathan and Andrea Sorensen of Albertville and Rachel, Sarah and Daniel Benrud of Kenyon; two sisters, Jeanette (John) Gorman of Red Wing and Doris Johnson of Brooklyn Center; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; two sons, one in infancy in 1961 and David in 1986; one brother, Elmer Johnson; and three sisters, Edna Freiheit, Leone Nelson and Helen Cremeens.