Gerald Duane Johnson (Jerry) was born May 29, 1940, in Lanesboro, Minnesota, to Kenneth and Mildred (Egge) Johnson. He was baptized July 8, 1940, and confirmed May 29, 1955, into Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro. Jerry attended Lanesboro Public Schools from 1945-1958.
He attended Luther College for one semester in 1958, left college and joined the U.S. Navy for four years where he was a radioman. While in the Navy he served 18 months in Morocco and later became part of the first crew of the super aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Jerry also served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve Signal Corps. He was proud of his military service.
Jerry received a bachelor’s degree from Winona State College in 1966 and in 1973 was awarded a master’s degree, also from Winona State College. He served as an elementary school teacher and principal for 30 years at schools in Spring Grove, Minnrsota, Charles City, Iowa, Lawton-Bronson, Iowa, and North Fayette of West Union Iowa.
On a cold winter night in 1963 at the Pla-Mor Ballroom in Rochester, he met his one and only future wife, Elaine Thompson, also from Lanesboro. They were married on April 3, 1964, in Central Lutheran Church at Winona. They were happily married for 50 years. Jerry and Elaine enjoyed traveling and made numerous bus trips around the U.S., a trip to Hawaii and one to Norway.
Jerry enjoyed choral singing and sang in many church choirs. He was a 30-year member of the Luren Singing Society of Decorah, Iowa, the nation’s oldest Norwegian Male Chorus.
After Elaine’s death, Jerry moved back to Lanesboro for several years and then to Rochester and spent his last days at the Minnesota State Veterans Home – Preston, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine only three days after their Golden Anniversary, his parents, a brother, Robert; a nephew, Todd; and his in-laws Cleo and Edna Thompson.
Jerry is survived by two daughters: Debra (Dan) Lafferty and Kimberly Johnson, one son, Troy (Chantel) Johnson, six grandchildren: Matthew (Emily) Lafferty, Logan (Jessica) Lafferty, Lauren (Mark) Lage, Ellen (Carson) Gardener, Kelby Johnson and Kaleb Johnson; nine great-grandchildren, brother David (Chess) Johnson and sister Linda (Mike) Erickson, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at the Veterans Home in Preston and the Mayo Hospice staff for their excellent care.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, Minnesota, at 11 a.m. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Gerald will be laid to rest at Lanesboro Cemetery with military honors present by Lanesboro American Legion Post #40.
Memorials are preferred to Minnesota State Veterans Home in Preston, Minnesota or Luren Singing Society at 719 W Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101.
Hoff Funeral Home – Lanesboro is assisting the family with arrangements. www.hofffuneral.com.
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