Eugene J. “Tubby” Johnson, 87, of Austin, Minn., died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at the Field Crest Care Center, Hayfield, Minn.

Eugene was born Feb. 2, 1926, at Mabel, Minn., the son of Joseph and Winnie (Fischer) Johnson. He attended country school in the Mabel area. Eugene worked various jobs including working on the Alaskan Highway. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. On Jan. 7, 1946, he was married to Ione Omodt at the Riceford Lutheran Church Parsonage at Riceford, Minn. In 1949, the Johnson’s moved to Austin where “Tubby” worked for the Hormel Foods Company for 33 1⁄2 years.

Eugene was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, camping, fly fishing for trout and walleye fishing. He also enjoyed doing woodworking. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and served as an usher for 30 years. He was also a member of Olaf B. Damn Post No. 1216 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He was a loving husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gary Lee Johnson in 1990; brothers, Carroll Shepherd, Emery Shepherd, Darryl Johnson, Harley Johnson; two infant brothers; and sister Lela Johnson.

Eugene is survived by his wife, Ione Johnson, Austin; children, Joel (Evelyn) Johnson, Spring Grove, Minn.; Linda Koski, Waltham, Minn.; Dennis Johnson, Mabel, Minn.; Wayne “Butch” Johnson (Sandy Diggins), Spring Grove; grandchildren, Dustin (Charrisa) Koski, Weston (Crystal) Koski, Leslee (Tyler) Swenson, Brent (Leslie) Johnson, Laura Johnson, Amy Johnson, Jason Johnson, Wendy Johnson; 13 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. Glenn L. Monson officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery with Olaf B. Damm Post No. 1216 Veterans of Foreign Wars in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at the church for one hour before the service. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Honorary bearers will be Dustin Koski, Weston Koski, Leslee Swenson, Brent Johnson, Laura Johnson, Amy Johnson, Jason Johnson, Wendy Johnson and Scott Marshall.