Obit: Johnson, Roger Donald (1928 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Johnson, Olson, Sholes, Koenig, Cormican, Fowler, Van Gorden, Hoonsbeen

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) September 9, 2009

Johnson, Roger Donald (22 April 1928 – 1 September 2009) With Flag

Roger Donald Johnson, 81, of Black River Falls died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, in Black River Memorial Hospital under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice.

Roger was born April 22, 1928, in Black River Falls to Helmer V. and Olga (Olson) Johnson.  He was raised in Black River Falls.

He served in the U. S. Army as an artillery sergeant from 1951-1954 and was stationed in Korea for 16 months during the Korean War. During this time he earned a Korean Service Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars, a National Defense Service Medal and a United Nations Service Medal, along with a Purple Heart for wounds received in battle April 13, 1953, in Punchbowl, Korea.

Roger married Priscilla Ann Sholes in 1951 in Angola, IN.  The couple lived in Black River Falls most of their married lives.

As a young man, he was employed by Bruce Van Gorden and Jerry Hoonsbeen at the downtown Texaco station.  He also owned and operated Roger’s Texaco station on German Hill for several years.  For 16 years, he was employed by Inland Steel at the Jackson County Iron Mine.  He also had been employed by Hoffman Construction, Fort McCoy (roads and gardens) and by a front-end alignment shop in La Crosse.

Roger loved deer hunting in the woods alongside his family on the Olson Farm in Melrose.  He also enjoyed fishing, camping, carpentry and woodworking.  He enjoyed sharing fishing secrets with his grandchildren, MacKenzie and Danielle.  He dearly loved his family.

Survivors include his wife, Priscilla; a daughter, Julie (Tom) Koenig of Fond du Lac; three sons, David Johnson and Michael (Debra) Johnson, both of Black River Falls, and Douglas Johnson of Melrose; seven grandchildren, Kelly Cormican, Eric, Casey, Travis, Megan, MacKenzie and Danielle Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Ayden and Morgan Fowler; two brothers, Bruce (Laurna) Johnson of Hudson and Fred (Dixie) Johnson of Louisiana; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helmer and Olga Johnson; a daughter Vicky Lynn Johnson; an infant sister, Joanne Carol Johnson; and a brother, Duane Johnson.

Private family graveside services with full military honors for Roger Donald Johnson will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Black River Falls.

The Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences are available at: www.buswellfuneralhome.com.