Robert Johnson, 86, Rochester and Naples, Fla.
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Robert W. Johnson, 86, of Rochester and Naples, Fla., passed away on April 2, 2007, at Mayo Hospice – Charter House in Rochester. He died, surrounded by his family, after an extended illness.
Robert was born April 1, 1921, in Winona. He graduated from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., and attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He served as a Captain in the Marine Corp during World War II and received the Purple Heart. Following the war, his career in the lumber business began in 1946 at Hayes Lucas Lumbar Company (which later became United Building Centers). He had a successful career as president of United Building Centers and retired in 1984.
Robert served on various boards of directors including Community Memorial Hospital and Wells Fargo Bank in Winona. In addition to being an avid golfer. Robert enjoyed hunting, handball, reading and playing cards.
In February 1944, he married Joan Bailey and she died in 1986. In February 1989, he married Gloria Russell and she does survive.
Robert is also survived by his and Gloria&8217;s children, Candace (David) Anderson of Madison, Wis., Jillian (Doug) Peterson of Albert Lea, Marc (Rhea) Johnson of Austin, Eric (Michele Duffy) Johnson of Winona, Greg (Joanne) Russell of Rochester, and Holly (Tom) Mandt of Lakeville, their grandchildren, Brek (Lisa) Anderson; Erika (Enda) O&8217;Donohoe, Shaw Anderson (deceased), Colby and Bailey (Joel Walter) Johnson; Casey and Cal Johnson, Corbyn, Connor and Lucas Peterson; Heather (Ryan) Oldenburg, Carrie Russell, Lindsay (Brandon) Stewart, Margo and Rebekah Mandt, also his great grandchildren, Drew and Chloe Anderson, and his sister, Harriet August of Madison, Wis.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke&8217;s Episcopal Church in Rochester.
Friends may gather with family members one hour before the service. Private family interment services will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the Mayo Hospice staff at Charter House for their constant support and wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mayo Hospice Program or St. Luke&8217;s Episcopal Church.
Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes is in charge of the arrangements.