Julene Gordon Johnson, age 94, of Willmar, died Friday evening, April 13, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home, www.petersonbrothers.com.
He was born July 1, 1923, in Hanska, Minn., to Herman and Dora (Oren) Johnson. Julene joined the Merchant Marines at age 17. He served in the Navy during WWII on the Pacific Front aboard the USS Intrepid. Julene and Evelyn Broste were married February 16, 1944. They rented a farm near Hanska. In 1961, they purchased their farm on Cherry Lake in rural Atwater. Together they raised six children. In 2009, Julene and Evie moved to Copperleaf Assisted Living in Willmar. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater. Julene loved God, his family, his friends and his farm. He valued honesty, integrity and hard work.
Julene is survived by his children: Jeff (Gretchen) of Moneta, Va., Jay (Jeanette Priess) of Detroit Lakes, Jenni (Al) Petersen of Dripping Springs, Tex., Jim of Willmar, Jo Anne (Keith) Agrimson of Utica, and Jana (Shawn) Draper of Raleigh, N.C. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Rachelle Fix, Aaron (Karla) Johnson, Heather (Jesse Smith) Johnson, Zachary (Laura) Petersen, Rachel (Bruce) Larson, Samantha Johnson, Lindsey Johnson, Stephanie (Adam) Roos, Jacob (Lisa) Agrimson, Abby Draper and Andrew Draper; great-grandchildren: Seth Johnson, Christian Smith, Everett Smith, Tessa Epple, Tyler Helmbrecht, Tiffany Helmbrecht, Isaac Roos, and Miles Agrimson; sisters Arlene Eager and Ila (John) Hansen; and sister-in-law Betty Johnson, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn, brothers Gaylord and Harlow, sister Helen, and his parents.
Julene’s family offers thanks to all the helpers at Copperleaf, especially Regina, to Trish and Pam at the Willmar VA and the St. Cloud VA, vision and p/t workers. Your care and kindness has been priceless.