Wayne Everett Johnson, 72

Published 10:42 am Thursday, February 18, 2016

Wayne Everett Johnson, 72, of Elkton, Minnesota, died Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Mayo Clinic Hospitals, St. Marys Campus, from heart complications.

Wayne Johnson

Wayne was born Sept. 7, 1943, in Taopi, Minnesota, to Richard (Bud) and Helen (Hanson) Johnson. He attended Clayton and Grand Meadow schools, graduating in 1961. On May 18, 1974, Wayne married Bonnie (Klennert-Schultz) in Hammond, Minnesota. Wayne was a farmer all of his life. He enjoyed working on the farm planting and harvesting crops with his horses and tractors, and feeding cattle. In 1972, he bought his own farm, but heart disease prevented him from farming until 1973.

Wayne loved to go to auctions and enjoyed going to dances with friends. It was there he met his wife Bonnie and her two children. They farmed for 30 years in Taopi. He served on the Marshall Church Council and the Clayton Township Board for 27 years. He enjoyed going on trips with the township board members. Wayne also worked as a handy man at two group homes in Austin before retiring. The Johnsons moved to Elkton in 2003.

Wayne loved his children and his dog Ruby more than anything. He would do anything with them and for them. They were the light of his life. He will always be loved, remembered and missed by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 41 years, Bonnie Johnson of Elkton, Minnesota; step-daughter, Tammy Boelman, Albert Lea, Minnesota; step-son, Michael Klennert, Lime Springs, Iowa; daughter, Karla (Aaron) Whipple, Elkton, Minnesota; sons: Gregory Johnson (Kelly Wellik) Stewartville, Minnesota, Daniel Johnson (Chelsey DeVries) Stewartville, Minnesota; 14 wonderful grandchildren who loved him dearly; his siblings: Charlotte (Wayne) Zimmerman, Lloyd “Gus” (Janice) Johnson, Linda Lecy, Cheryl (Steve) Fields, Kevin (Karen) Johnson, Curtis Johnson, Marlys Gerber and Randy Johnson.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Troy Boelman; and brothers-in-law: Floyd Lecy and Richard Gerber.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at Marshall Lutheran Church, rural Adams, Minnesota, with the Rev. Jeremy Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Marshall Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Adams Funeral Home and at the church for one hour before the service on Saturday.