Donald Johnson

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 20, 2010

A memorial service for Donald G. Johnson, 85, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate. A luncheon will follow the service.
Don died on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at the Largo Medical Center, Largo, Fla. A memorial service was held in Largo on Thursday, March 25.
Donald G. Johnson was born on Dec. 8, 1924, in Albert Lea, to Gullek and Minnie (Calvin) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942. Don served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was united in marriage to Geraldine (Gerry) Olson on May 5, 1946, in Hayward. Don worked at Interstate Power and Hutch’s Texaco in Hayward prior to purchasing Johnson’s Heating and Air Conditioning with his brother, Rich, from their father, Gullek. Don and Gerry lived in Albert Lea until October of 1979, when they sold their business and moved to Florida. In 1980, they purchased a motel on Madeira Beach, Fla., which they owned and operated for 10 years before retiring in 1990 and moving inland to Pinellas Park, Fla.
After retiring, Don and Gerry split their time between Florida and their cottage on St. Olaf Lake in New Richland. Don was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and later Salem Lutheran Church while in Albert Lea. He was currently a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo, Fla. Don was active in the church choirs at both Salem Lutheran Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Don was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Elks Club and the Albert Lea Country Club. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, watching football, especially the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Don is survived by his five children: Rod (Linda) Johnson of Albert Lea, Doug Johnson of Hopkins, Craig (Michele) Johnson of Albert Lea, Jan (Craig) Hoium of Albert Lea, Tom (Karen) Johnson of Palm Harbor, Fla.; grandchildren: Josh (Karen) Johnson, Matt (Christine) Johnson, Jessica (Joe) Gleason, Nathan (Laura) Johnson, Erik Johnson, Mitchell (Meghan) Johnson, Mike (Carissa) Hoium, Jeff Hoium, Jordan (Adam) Bryan, Amber Johnson, Brianna Johnson; great-grandchildren: Bryce Galeoto, Evelyn Johnson, Emelia Hoium; sister, Marjory Huggins, of New Port Richey, Fla.; sisters-in-law: Helen Johnson, Opal Petersen and Faye Olson, all of Albert Lea; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gerry, who was the love of his life for 63 years; his parents; brothers: Robert Johnson, Roland Johnson, Buster (Bud) Johnson, and Richard Johnson; sister, Myrtle Lenz; numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church, Peace & Power (First Lutheran, Albert Lea) or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo.