Walter G. "Wally" Johnson

Johnson, Walter G. "Wally" of Shorewood. b. January 7, 1929 in Minneapolis, son of Mabel and Helmer John- son, passed away September 19, 2013. Survived by wife of 60 years, Gloria Johnson; son, Barry (Katherine) Johnson; daughter, Tammy (Clyde) Bailey; grandsons, Connor, Graham and Roon Johnson; sister, Olga Ramberg; brother, Carl (Dolores) Johnson; nieces, nephews and many friends. Preceded in death by parents. Wally was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His love of life and his family defined him. He graduated from Roosevelt H.S. in 1947, served in the Army 216th Chemical Corps. taking part in Tumbler-Snapper Atomic Testing in Nevada. While in the service, life for Wally would forever change in 1952 when he met the love of his life, Gloria. On their first date he gave her his class ring and never looked back. He and Gloria shared a sixty year marriage, two children, three grandsons and countless memories. Proud of his Swedish heritage, Wally traveled twice to Sweden to visit family and loved taking his grandsons to the American Swedish Institute. He loved Swedish meatballs and was one of the family hold-outs, embracing the traditional Christmas Eve meal of lutefisk. A 28 year member of the Hopkins Police Department, for most of his career he was Police Liaison Officer at Hopkins Schools. Wally was President of the Minnesota State Juvenile Officers Association, Police Officer of the Year (1971) and won multiple State Pistol shooting championships, as captain of the team. He stayed current taking many classes at the U of MN to further his work with troubled youth. A lifelong outdoorsman, Wally loved to hunt and fish. As a young man he hunted at the family "deer shack" with his father, brother and father-in-law. Later he would introduce Barry and Tammy to hunting and fishing with trips to Lac Qui Parle, Canada and other Minnesota hot- spots. He was thrilled to go on fly-in fishing trips to Canada with Barry and his grandsons. He had a winning, charismatic personality and was quick with a smile and engaging conversation. He was a great bridge and cribbage player, gourmet club and church choir member, an avid reader of great Western novels and a seasoned traveler. "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded"- Walt Whitman. So many lives breathed easier because Walter Johnson lived. The world has lost a really great guy. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Salvation Army or Pheasants Forever. Funeral service Monday, September 23, 11 AM, visitation 1 hour prior to the service and a reception to follow at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8115 Hwy 7, St. Louis Park. Interment at Fairview Cemetery in Lindstrom, MN. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Strobeck Johnson 952-938-9020

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Walter G. "Wally" Johnson

September 19, 2013

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