Obituary of Walter A. Johnson

Walter (Wally) A. Johnson, age 84, of 1436 21st Avenue South, Wisconsin Rapids, died Sunday, July 6, 2014 at the Wisconsin Rapids Care Center, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. James Douglas and Rev. Martin Baur will officiate. Entombment will be at Forest Hill Mausoleum. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 PM at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 10:00 AM until the time of services on Thursday at the church. Wally was born in Wisconsin Rapids on June 21, 1930, to Walter O. and Frieda (Fuelle) Johnson. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. After graduation, Wally spent four years in the United State Air Force. On September 3, 1955, he married his loving wife of 58 years, Joan A. Teske. Wally and Joan spent their first years of marriage in West Layfayette, IN where Wally attended Purdue University. The couple moved back to Wisconsin Rapids in 1958 and Wally continued his 43-year career with Consolidated Papers, Inc. retiring in 1991. During his career, Wally served on the Board of Directors of the Data Processing Management Association and American Federation of Information Processing Societies. He also was an active community volunteer by serving as a Bulls Eye Credit Union board member, Home Owner's Association for Colonial Villages board member, and usher, council member, and Boy Pioneers volunteer at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. As Wally and Joan raised their family, they enjoyed years of camping and travel. Together, they took many trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to visit their daughter, and in retirement, spent winter months in North Fort Myers, FL, hosting friends and family, playing cards, and shopping at the flea markets. Near and dear to his heart was the time spent with family, attending the activities of his grandchildren as they grew, and most recently, getting to know his great-grandchildren. Wally is survived by his daughter, Sally Johnson, Poplar Branch, NC; sons, Brian (Sue) Johnson, Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Douglas (Kathy) Johnson, Plainfield, WI; sisters, Edna Haferman, and Elaine (Bill) Wittrock, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; brother-in-law, Tom (Marion) Teske, Waxahachie, TX; sisters-in-law, Bette (William) Kohnen, Port Edwards, WI and Judy Teske, Holcombe, WI. He will also be sadly missed by granddaughters, Jill Johnson (Drew Sherman), St. Paul, MN; Molly (Nikk) Dickerson, Owatonna, MN; Mandy Johnson, River Falls, WI; and step-grandchildren, Michelle (Chuck) Fuehrer, Plainfield, WI; Aaron (Heather) Salisbury, Wausau, WI; Amber Salisbury, Sacramento, CA; and Shane Salisbury, Plainfield, WI. He is further survived by special great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Wally was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan A. (Teske) Johnson; parents, Walter O. and Frieda (Fuelle) Johnson, mother- and father-in-law, Clarence and Alma (Ziegler) Teske; sister and brother-in-law, Elmira and William Schroeder; and brothers-in-law, Alvin Haferman, David Teske and David Kauth. Wally's devotion to his family and faith will never be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Outdoor Sign Fund at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.