James was born August 18, 1916 to Carla and Agnes (Palmer)
Johnson on a farm in Union township, Mitchell County, Iowa. He
graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1936. He married Edith
May Farmer November 19, 1944 in the Congregational Church in
Osage. He was a grain and livestock farmer in Union Township
until retiring to Osage in 1973. He was a member of the Mitchell
County Farm Bureau from 1945 until his retirement. He enjoyed
celebrating his Norwegian heritage as a member of the Sons of
Norway. He was a long time member of the Union Presbyterian
Church and subsequently a member of the United Methodist
Churches in Osage and St. Ansgar. He enjoyed fishing and
watching baseball and football games. His children and
grandchildren were the center of his life. For the past 12 years
Claire and May have spent the winter in Mesa, Arizona.
He is survived by his wife May of 57 years; three daughters,
Pamela (Herbert) Haack of Rochester, Minnesota, Mary Lynn
Johnson of Spokane, Washington, and Lu Johnson of Apple Valley,
Minnesota; a son Lee (Janelle) Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas;
five grandchildren, Natalie Haack of Rancho Cucamonga,
California, Leah Haack of Rochester, Minnesota, Renee, Adam and
Todd Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas; sister-in-law Helen
Johnson of Osage; two nieces, Carolyn Srodes of Saresota,
Florida, and Karen (Alan) Damjanovic of Orchard; and a nephew
Mark Johnson of Osage.
James was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers,
Merle and Vanus; a niece Sherri Prince.
A private burial was held at the Osage Memorial Cemetery.
©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2001
