Roy Hayes Johnson

Roy Hayes Johnson passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 18, 2015. He was born on September 9, 1928 to Harry Johnson and Margaret (Dixon) Johnson in Redwing,MN. He began working at a young age on his family's farm, milking cows at four and later, at their Ace-Hi gas station in Cannon Falls, MN. In his early years, he worked at a local chicken farm, a bakery, and neighboring farms before his family moved to Duluth.

He met Lois Norgrant at the age of fourteen and, after seven years of friendship and courting, they were joined in Matrimony on September 2, 1950. Roy had already begun his career with U.S. Steel and he and Lois started a family in West Duluth. He worked for 30 years at U.S. Steel in Duluth, before moving up to Fayal in 1974. Roy continued to work for U.S. Steel in Mountain Iron until 1988. He retired and then started working for AEOA, working for another 28 years at the main office in Virginia. He retired in December of 2013 after 81 years of working.

Roy was an avid outdoorsman spending much of his free time in the woods and on area lakes with his friends and family. Deer hunting was a large part of life in the Johnson household and fishing was always a favorite pastime for Roy. He also had a deep love of music. Roy taught many of his children to play guitar and could also play the violin, harmonica, accordion, banjo, concertina, and recently learned to play the piano at age 84. He was definitely a multi-talented man.

Though he had many hobbies and pastimes to enjoy, Roy's first and lasting love was his wife and family. He shared his love of hunting and fishing with his children, teaching each of them as they grew. Singing and music would not have been the same for Roy if it wasn't with his family. His children all carry these and numerous other traits as a testament to his uncanny ability to inspire them to enjoy life. He always had a smile to share, usually followed by a humorous poem to see if he could get a smile in return. He was a dedicated and loving husband, loving father, and a doting grandfather and great-grandfather. He always made sure to let his family know how blessed he was to have them and how proud he was of each and every one of them. Roy was truly a wonderful man and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

Roy was Preceded in death by the love of his life Lois Johnson, His parents Harry Johnson and Margaret (Rita) Johnson, Brother William Johnson and Great-Granddaughter Aubree Nelson.

He is survived by his children Lanny(Sharon) Johnson, Sherry(Dan) Jurenic, David(Rebecca) Johnson, Doug(Cathy) Johnson, Lori (Matt Troutwine) Johnson and numerous Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren.

Services for Roy will be held on February 24,2015 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Virginia,MN. Visitation at 11:00am Service at 12:00 Lunch to follow.