Emery J. Johnson, 95, of Austin, Minnesota, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017.

He was born in Goodrich, Minnesota, to Anna and Bennie Johnson on Jan. 2, 1922. He married LaVonne T. Johnson on April 9, 1944, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. To these two wonderful loving people, eight children were born. Together they provided a home filled with love and laughter.

He was a proud World War II Army veteran serving from April 1941 to November 1945 as Staff Sargent with the U.S. Army 244th  AAF Base Unit. He worked as a mechanic at the Nash garage. He worked many years at Hormel Foods. He loved fishing and camping and shared that passion with his family taking them on many memorable trips to Minnesota lakes and campgrounds. He and his wife of 54 years spent their retirement years together camping and fishing at Lake Edwards. There were many campfires shared, games played and fish stories to tell. He was a talented wood carver and created impressive wooden carvings and antique car replicas for his family. He could fix anything and his family lovingly referred to these creative fixes as an “Emery Fix.” He loved playing his guitar and would gladly give a performance at anytime. His audience was sure to hear a rendition of “Red River Valley.” In his later years, he enjoyed playing his harmonica for family and friends, keeping it handy in his breast pocket. He will be greatly missed by his family. A wonderful father and grandfather filled with wit and always ready to hear a good story or to tell one of his own.

Emery is survived by his daughters, Christine (Mike) Smith of Rochester, Minnesota, Diane (Don) Olson of Austin, Rhonda (Jerry) Rosenthal of Fremont Nebraska, Carole (Bruce) Augustin of Austin, and Rita (Tom) Rieffer of Dickinson Texas; sons, Keith (Ann Hanson) Johnson of Austin, and Mark (Diane) Johnson of Minnetonka, Minnesota; daughter in-law, Latisha Johnson of Hastings, Minnesota; brother, Snooly Johnson of Austin; 23 grandchildren, Dan, Amy, Pam, Jenny, Becca, Geoff, Liz, Laurie, Debbie, Jim, Chris, Matt, Tad, Luke, Krista, Holly, Phil, Jamie, Chad, Eric, Anna, Gary and Rachael; 47 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVonne; oldest son, Verdean Johnson; his brothers, Wally, Floyd, Harold, and Arling; and his sisters, Gloria, Daphine, and Helen May.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with the Rev. Mark Niethammer officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Saturday morning.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the donor’s choice.