Lynn D Johnson

Lynn D. Johnson was born on September 28, 1950, to Wendle and Erlene (Pierson) Johnson.  Lynn passed away on February 11, 2022, as a result of a snowmobile accident.  He grew up in Balsam Lake and Centuria and graduated from Unity High School in 1969.  He traveled to Florida, Arizona, and California for work.  In 1974, he was united in marriage to Joan Gullickson and two daughters were born.

In 1977, Lynn went to Alaska where he did gold mining on a dredge in Hog River for the Alaska Gold Company and later did placer mining in Nome for the same gold company.  When the Alaska Gold Company closed, Lynn did mining on his own during the summer, while raising vegetable garden produce with friends and villagers.  During the winter, he put crab pots under the ice to catch king crab which he sold.  This was a very cold and sometimes dangerous job.  A few winters were spent in Baja, Mexico enjoying the warm weather.

After 40 years in Alaska, Lynn returned to Wisconsin to help his mother with her lake property.  He renewed his friendships with classmates and made new friends.  He enjoyed nature to the fullest while on 80 acres of wildland by becoming friendly with the birds and animals (even giving some animals names).  He was always happy when his favorite doe made it through the hunting season.  While in Alaska, he learned to get along with very limited materials and became a DIY (Do It Yourself) person, so he made what he needed.  Again, he built a greenhouse where he experimented with unusual plants and was proud of the produce which he shared.

Lynn lived in harmony and peace with nature.  A quote from Abraham Lincoln, “In this end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years”.

Lynn was preceded in death by his father, Wendle E. Johnson.  He will be sadly missed by his mother, Erlene, sisters, Cindy Hallberg and Sandra Minton (Greg), 2 daughters, Terri Johnson and Kelly Schreffler, and 4 grandchildren, Ella and Asher Johnson, and Lucy and Matthew Schreffler, as well as other relatives and many friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Lynn on June 10, from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the American Legion in Pine Park, Balsam Lake.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.

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