Virgil W. Johnson

Virgil W. Johnson, age 89 of Clear Lake, WI, died on August 28, 2014 at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond, WI .

Virgil Warren Johnson was born on October 18, 1924 in Apple River Township, WI the son of Martin & Emma (Ross) Johnson.    He grew up in Apple River Township, attended Apple River Park Grade School and graduated from Amery High School in 1942.   Virgil started driving milk truck as soon as he got out of school and his route took him the way Arlene Norland had to walk to school.  During WWII, Virgil was deferred from being drafted as he was hauling milk, but in June 1944, he was drafted into the US Army.  Virgil served with 347th infantry during the “Battle of the Bulge” in Christmas of 1944, receiving 3 bronze battle stars and later crossed the Rhine River into Germany with his unit.   He was honorably discharged in 1946, returned to Amery and bought his first canned milk truck and hauled to the Volga Creamery.   He was married to Arlene Norland on May 25, 1947 in Center City, MN and together they built and made their home in Range, WI.   While living in Range Virgil helped start the Range Fire Department and  began hauling milk in bulk to the Range Co-op.  It was also during this time they adopted and raised three children; LuAnn, Lorna, & Clifton.   In 1967, Virgil bought out Percy Nelson’s milk route and in 1970 moved his family to Clear Lake, WI.     Eventually they operated four milk routes.  Virgil was active in the Clear Lake community  serving on and volunteering his services to the Clear Lake Fire Department by using his bulk truck to supply water for fires and helping with the annual Oyster Supper.  In 1989, Virgil sold his business to Larry Fagerberg and he immediately began driving truck for Waterman Sanitation.  Virgil was driving truck for them up until this year when he had his stroke.    He was a member of the Clear Lake VFW  of Grace Lutheran Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Arlene;  parents, Martin & Emma Johnson;  brother, Martin Johnson;
& sisters,  Eleanore Buhr & June Peterson.

Survived by

Daughters and Son
LuAnn Friday  -  Clear Lake, WI,  Lorna (Mark) Monson  - Clear Lake, WI, &  Clifton Johnson  -  River Falls, WI

5 Grandchildren
Alicia (Derek) Anderson  -  Somerset, WI
Corey (Stephanie) Monson  -  Clear Lake, WI
Brett Monson (Kristie Link) -  Clear Lake, WI
Krissy (Greg Collins) Shilts  -  Hudson, WI
Braden Johnson  -   River Falls, WI

8 Great Grandchildren
Claire & Rece Anderson,  Lydia Shilts, Molly & Kendall Collins, Kylie, Ayla, & Caden Monson

Sisters and Brothers
Viola Albertson,  JoAnn (Larry) Johnson, Alan ( Marlys) Johnson, & Ansel Johnson

Many Relatives, Family & Friends

Funeral Services  - 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the United Covenant Church in Clear Lake, WI

Clergy -  Pastor Dan Pearson     Music  -  Margaret Peterson

Casket Bearers  -  Pete Cogbill, Bob Briesemeister, John Buhr, Dean Soderberg, Brett Monson, Corey Monson

Honorary Casket Bearers  -  Dave & Dick Waterman

Interment  -  Clear Lake Cemetery  -  Clear Lake, WI

Military Honors  -  All Clear Lake Veterans Honor Guard

Scheuermann Funeral Home in Clear Lake handled the arrangements.
www.clearlakefuneralhome.com

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