LeRoy Johnson
LeRoy Edwin Johnson, 74, of Owen, died peacefully at home on November 5, 2023, with his wife and Hope Hospice nurse Kelsey at his side after a valiant battle against cancer.
LeRoy was born on May 11, 1949, to Elmer and Phyllis Johnson in Wisconsin Rapids at Riverview Hospital. LeRoy graduated from Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids, in 1967. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Eugene A. Greene as a boiler man. LeRoy met his future wife at JC Penney in Marshfield. There was a store policy against associates dating; Leroy went out the back door, Janine out the front and they met at a fast food joint for lunch. They were married on September 28, 1974, at the Colby United Methodist Church.
When the Rapids Mall was built, LeRoy was chosen to manage the men’s department. He later sold cars for Brostrom-Kickert in Wisconsin Rapids, and M& H Chevrolet in Medford. He spent his final years before retirement at Marathon Cheese. LeRoy had a great love of cars. For many years he took pictures for the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune of short track and Nascar races. After a trip to Pocono where the spectators stood the whole race, Janine said that was enough in-person racing for her. LeRoy helped Tyler with his go kart racing by hauling the kart on the back of the little red Chevy truck. On a flower shopping expedition Janine spotted a 1954 Chevy Belair for sale. LeRoy jumped at the chance and that began many years of car shows, some awards and a new “family” of car enthusiasts. “Big Papa” always had a beer ready to share with friends. LeRoy wasn’t one to show a great deal of emotion, but the smirk on his face said it all. LeRoy was the commander of the American Legion Post #9, bowled on several league teams, shot pool every chance he got and had a HUGE collection of racing memorabilia.
The past few years of his life, LeRoy taught us that care giving is a very important job, that family and friends make the burden lighter, and that our ability to give and accept love is not diminished even though our physical health might be.
Survivors include his wife, Janine of Owen; his mother, Phyllis (Paul) Waterman of Marshfield; his mother-in-law, Marlene Benjegerdes of Colby; his step-sister, Michelle Seebruck of Pittsville; two nephews and one niece. Missing him greatly are his children: Aimee (Travis) Haakenson of Medford and Tyler (Ailea) Johnson of Batesville, Alaska. He is further survived by four grandchildren: Shaynea (Tim Snyder) of Abbotsford, Vance Haakenson, Audree Haakenson of Medford and Nakiaya Johnson of Batesville. He is also survived by a great-grandson, Axel Emmerich of Abbotsford.
He was preceded in death by his father and a grandson, Aspen.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at Maurina Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. Military honors will be provided by the Colby VFW Post #2227.
Friends may send online condolences to www. maurinaschilling.com.
Paid obituary 144941
