Vernon Johnson

Vernon Johnson was born in Lake Hanska Township, Brown County, Minnesota, on December 17, 1920, the son of Carl Eugenia (Bloomquist) Johnson. He was baptized at East Sveadahl Lutheran Church and confirmed at West Sveadahl Lutheran Church. Vernon attended rural school district 37, Watonwan Co. School Dist. He worked at Lee Oil Co., LaSalle in the early 1940's before enlisting in the US Coast Guard on January 6, 1942. He served in the Pacific area aboard the USS Cavalier APA 37, where he earned 5 battle stars before they were torpedoed in the South Pacific. He then was transferred to the USCGC Iroquis on weather patrol in the central Pacific until his honorable discharge on August 6, 1946. Vernon returned to Minnesota and went to work at the LaSalle Farmers Grain Co. and later drove truck for John Deere of St. James. On April 30, 1948, Vernon was united in marriage to Evelyn Hagen at the Albion Church parsonage in St. James. They raised their 3 children and farmed, on the 3rd generation family farm, in the St. James area and retired in the early 1980's. Vernon was a Life Member of the American Legion Post 33, V.F.W. Post 1914 and served on the Honor Guard for 30 years before his health forced him to retire. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching the Twins Vikings, and travelling on the Bloomquist Family Reunion Bus in the US and Canada. He is survived by his wife Evelyn Johnson of St. James, daughter; Maralee (Marv) Weiss of Sleepy Eye, son: Layne Johnson of Lake Crystal and special friend Tae Meyer, sister; Lorraine Hoff of Minneapolis, brother; Kermit (Dona) Johnson of St. James, 9 grandchildren; Karl (Jill) Weiss, Kevin Weiss, Bryan (Naomi) Weiss all of Sleepy Eye, Jeremiah (Laura) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, Jennifer (Barry) Jesinoski of Union, KY, Jeffrey (Deonne) Johnson of Maryland, Jaymi (Troy) Bader of Omaha, NE, Tammy (Carlos) Rosa of Missouri, Tara Kinney of Bettendorf, IA, 18 great-grandchildren and a little girl on the way, sister-in-law; Muriel Wordelman of St. Cloud, brother-in-law; Stanley (Arlene) Hagen of St. James. He is preceded in death by his son; Randall in 1987, parents, brother; Victor Wordelman, parents-in-law; Thom Emma Hagen and brother-in-law; Avery Hoff. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, November 22, 2013 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Second Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Saturday, November 23, 2013 East Sveadahl Lutheran Church 30247 710th Ave Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 10:30 am Saturday, November 23, 2013 East Sveadahl Lutheran Church 30247 710th Ave Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information East Sveadahl Lutheran Cemetery 30187 710th ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081