Robert Johnson Sr., 82, Albert Lea

Published 9:24 am Thursday, October 3, 2013

Memorial services for Robert J. “Red” Johnson Sr. of Albert Lea will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Mark Boorsma will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. There will be no reviewal at the church and friends may visit with family one hour before services.

Robert Johnson Sr.

Red died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at his home. He was 82.

Red was born on Nov. 2, 1930, in Albert Lea, and was the son of Henry E. and Clara (Christiansen) Johnson. He graduated from Albert Lea High School and then served the country in the U.S. Marines Corps from January of 1952 until his honorable discharge in January of 1954. On June 15, 1956, he was joined in marriage to Evelyn “Evie” Jones in Northwood. Following their marriage they lived for a few years in St. James where he managed the theater. They returned to Albert Lea, and Red worked for Hamm’s Beverage, Rinkmaster, Rasco, bartended and later worked as a custodian for Albert Lea School District No. 241. He was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church where he had been active on many boards.

Red enjoyed camping, golfing, fishing and spending time with his family.

He will be greatly missed by his children, Terry (Brenda Moore) Hornstra of Grand Rapids, Sandra (Larry) Petersen of Albert Lea, Bonnie (Terry) Adams of Albert Lea, Scott (Patti) Hornstra of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jodell Brunson of Plymouth, Mass., Robyn (Bill) Zandi of Franklin, Tenn., and Robert Johnson Jr. of Albert Lea; grandchildren, Heidie (Matt) O’Neill of Flagstaff, Ariz., Hollie Hornstra (Rob Daniels) of Grand Rapids, Steven (Anne) Petersen of Northfield, Andrew (Keli) Petersen of Albert Lea, Angela (Jon) Whitcomb of Prior Lake, Chad Holton of Prior Lake, Sam and Kathleen Hornstra of Cinncinnati, Molly Jo Brunson of New Haven, Conn., Josh Hibray of Denver, Colo., Britni Hibray of Franklin and Michael, Mark and Marisa of Franklin; 11 great-grandchildren; siblings, Henry “Soins” Johnson, Richard “Peanuts” (Debby) Johnson, Roger (Donna) Johnson, Kenneth “Skipper” (Evie) Johnson and Larry (Sandra) Johnson ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ken Oman, Ann Jones, Dorothy Jones and Darlene Dress; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Johnson; parents, Henry and Clara Johnson; son-in-law, Geoffrey Brunson; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charles and Hattie Jones; sisters, Violet (William) Mathies, Janet (Marti) Schwartz, Dorothy (Bing) Selland, Shirley Oman, Clara “Kitty” Gilmore and Betty (Wally) Westrum; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mary Deurmier, Paul Dahlenberg, Charles “Junior” Jones, Marge Johnson, Lucille “Toots,” Jess Deurmier, Ethel and Ralph French, Elmer Deurmier, Bessie Dahlenberg, Elmer “Kelly” Jones and Ted Dress.

In lieu of flowers memorials suggested to Ascension Lutheran Organ Fund.