Maurice S. Johnson

Maurice Johnson, age 90 of Glenwood, died Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 27th at Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church in Terrace with Pastor Brenda Boogren officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Maurice Stanley Johnson was born on April 25, 1934, in Chippewa Falls Township, Pope County, Minnesota. Maurice was the youngest of seven children born to Bernt and Clara (Jergenson) Johnson. Maurice grew up in the rural landscapes of Pope County, where he attended a country school and later Glenwood High School. He was baptized and later confirmed at Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church in Terrace.

On March 23, 1957, Maurice's life was enriched when he married his sweetheart, JoAnn Burnson, in a ceremony at the First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake parsonage. The couple initially lived in various places before settling down on their farm near Terrace in 1961, which they lovingly tended for 60 years. In September of 2021, Maurice and JoAnn transitioned to Parkview Court in Glenwood and eventually Glenwood Retirement Village.

Maurice's professional life was as diverse as it was industrious. He began by farming at his home farm for three years, followed by a summer working for his brother-in-law, Fred Gerde, in 1954. Maurice then joined forces with his brothers Irwin and Phillip, forming Johnson Brothers Plastering, where he worked for nine years. He owned a school bus for five years. He drove for a year before handing over the duties to Irwin for the next four. Maurice's career also included four years with DeBoer Potato Company before he started a dedicated 28-year tenure with the Pope County Highway Department, from which he retired in April of 1997.

Maurice's love for the outdoors was evident in his hobbies. He was a man who found joy in the simple pleasures of life: farming, hunting, fishing, and taking walks through the countryside. He took particular pride in his farm, often seen riding his little Ford 2N tractor, ensuring every blade of grass was perfectly trimmed. Maurice will be remembered as a hardworking man of few words.

Maurice is survived by his devoted wife of over 67 years, JoAnn; his daughter, Barb (Rick) Brower of Alexandria; sons, David (Robin) Johnson of Little River, South Carolina, Gary (Jeri) Johnson, and Bryan (Amy) Johnson, both of Glenwood; his cherished grandchildren, Amy (Eric) Zenner, Melissa Brower, Becky (Chad) Melton, Mike (Lindsey) Brower, Megan (Austin) Castles, Ellen (Addison) Wood, Katie Macho, Karie (Jon) Lange, and Riley Johnson; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Julian, Irwin, Burton (Myra), and Phillip (Virginia) Johnson; and his sisters, Opal (Fred) Gerde and Elaine (Leslie) Moe.

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