Wesley W Johnson Obituary (1925 - 2016)

Wesley W. Johnson, 91, of Menomonie died on June 24, 2016. Wes was born in Vasa, MN. He grew up there, together with his older brother, Don, as a member of Vasa Lutheran Church which at that time still conducted services in Swedish as well as English. After graduation from high school in Red Wing, MN, Wes enlisted in the army during WWII where he was trained as an aerial navigator earning his commission as lieutenant just as the war came to an end. Wes attended school in River Falls (now UWRF) where he graduated with a degree in agricultural education. Following graduation, Wes went to work for the Department of Agriculture, Farmer’s Home Administration, retiring in 1985 as District Director, through which it was Wes’s great pleasure to get to know so many wonderful people throughout Dunn County’s rural and farming community. At River Falls Wes met Margaret Reiss. He and Maggie were married in 1950 at Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls. They set up their first household in Spooner, WI. In 1955 after living a short while in Prairie du Chien as well, Wes and Maggie moved to Menomonie where they immediately joined Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Wes and Maggie raised three daughters in Menomonie during which years, as a family, they camped and took yearly road trips throughout the United States particularly enjoying visits to the National Parks. After Wes’s retirement in 1985 and Maggie’s retirement from teaching in 1989, Wes and Maggie pursued international travel as well, usually in connection with volunteer work and/or educational programs. They had the pleasure to do volunteer work for the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Global Volunteers, Volunteers in Mission (VIM) and various church groups which included work domestically as well as internationally in such places as Ecuador, Poland, New Zealand and Virgin Islands. Wes and Maggie traveled as well to China and South Africa through Elderhostel and visited Eastern Europe and Russia as well. Wes always appreciated the many opportunities life brought his way. He was blessed with a special connection with so many in the Menomonie and Dunn County communities and beyond, too many to name. He was blessed with a loving, happy and long marriage with Maggie, three children, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Wes is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maggie, daughters Kathryn (Frank Reischel), Karen (Steve Anderson), Pamela (David Christenson), grandchildren Justin Resichel, Mark Reischel (Angela), Karl Anderson (Megan Duevel Anderson), Kristin Anderson Clark (Marshall), Jacob Anderson, Hannah Anderson, Rachel Christenson, Mark Christenson, and great grandchildren Wesley Reischel, Hugh Reischel and Marit Clark. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Hannah Johnson, and brother, Donald Johnson. Wes and the family wish to express their appreciation for the comfort and care provided to Wes by staff at Neighbors of Dunn County and Mayo Hospice, as well as many consulted at Mayo Health in the final weeks, in particular Dr. Daniel Johnson and his staff. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Our Savior’s Lutheran of Menomonie or a charity of the donor’s choice. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Pastor Heather Wigdahl officiating. There will be visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie.