Earl L. Johnson -Rushford

RUSHFORD — Earl L. Johnson, 92, of Rushford, died Monday, April 26, 2010, at Community Memorial Hospital in Winona.

Earl was born on his grandfather, Engelbret Johnson’s, farm in Preston Township, on October 11, 1917, to Alfred and Bendina (Pederson) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at Union Prairie Lutheran Church and graduated from Peterson High School on May 31, 1935. Earl served in the U.S. Army from January 15, 1942, to June 30, 1945, during World War II. He served in the European Theater of Operations with the 9th Infantry Division. He went to North Africa, Sicily, England, France, Belgium, and Germany, taking home six Battle Stars.

After being discharged from the U.S. Army, he worked for four years with Langford Electric Company as an electrical contractor, and 41 years with Tri-County Electric Cooperative with 21 years as General Manager.

On September 22, 1945, Earl married Marian L. Braatz at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Winona. They were married for 43 years.

Earl was always civic-minded and community-oriented. He was a member of Rushford Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church’s Men’s Club, and loved to help with the Cod Fish Supper and Church Sunday School. He served on the Rushford City Council and helped with Lions Club service projects, especially the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He belonged to Rushford’s VFW and American Legion Post 94, was a Boy Scout Leader, was involved in the Boy Scouts Council of Gamehaven Area and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1966 (the highest leadership award) and Order of the Arrow Award.  He was also involved in the Disabled American Veterans and Masonic Lodge, receiving the Hiriam Award, as well as the Scottish Rite, Rushford Clinic Corporation Board, Good Shepherd Lutheran Nursing Home Board, Winona Community Memorial Hospital Board, Airport Commission Board, and the Rushford Centennial, Homecoming, and Frontier Days Committees, He was chosen Mr. Rushford in 2000, and was proud of his 30 years of displaying American Flags on the light poles of Rushford and on Veterans Markers in cemeteries.

He will be dearly missed.

Earl is survived by his son, Gary L. (Chrissie) Johnson of Lakewood, Colo.; daughter, Lisa J. (Steve) Anderson of Rushford; daughter-in-law, Kim Johnson of Evergreen, Colo.; six grandchildren, Krista (Wesley) Johnson Hardin, Bret Johnson, Bryce (Shelby) Johnson, Drew Anderson, Dana Anderson and Clay Anderson; brother, Wesley (Kathleen) Johnson of Byron; sister-in-law, Helen Lovgren of Rochester; and special friend, Velma Himlie of Rushford.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marian L. Johnson, son Dean F. Johnson, grandson Dalton H. Johnson, brother Lyle Johnson, sister Anna Marie Moore, and his parents.

The Funeral Service for Earl will be held at 11 a.m. at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford on Saturday, May 1, 2010, with the Reverend Roger Michaelson officiating. Burial will follow at Rushford Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 30, at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service-Rushford Chapel, with a Masonic Lodge Service at 7:45 p.m. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Please feel free to share a memory of Earl with his family, sign the online guestbook, and view his Video Tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.