Kenneth “Kenny” Maurice Johnson, 94, of Eagan, MN, passed away peacefully at home on January 4,
2023.
Kenny was born on June 14, 1928 to Walter and Hazel (Elmquist) Johnson on June 14, 1928, in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in Kandiyohi County and was a four-sport athlete at Willmar High School, inducted into the Willmar High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Kenny served as a sergeant in the Army’s First Cavalry Division during the Korean War, based in Japan working in cryptography.
After he returned to Willmar, Kenny met the woman who would become his wife of 64 years, Joyce Hefta. He and Joyce married in 1955 and moved to Bloomington, where they raised their four children. He attended the University of Minnesota and Hamline University and spent the majority of his professional career working for Honeywell at their Hopkins and New Brighton locations.
Kenny’s greatest joy was spending time with family at his lake place on Lake Andrew, New London, MN. He was a perpetual tinkerer and never had a shortage of projects. A lifelong sports fan, he followed most Gopher and Minnesota professional sports teams, and was an avid fan of the wide variety of youth, high school and college teams of his children and grandchildren. He traveled to all 50 states, loved conversing over a blackjack table, and was widely renowned for his kindness and genial demeanor. He will be dearly missed.
Preceded in death by his parents, wife (Joyce), brothers (Roy, Roger, and Jerry), sister (Deloris “Tusa” Bergman), and several beloved siblings-in-law. Survived by his children Nancy Johnson of Eagan, Brian (Susan) Johnson of Minneapolis, Bradley (Mickie) Johnson of Rosemount, Kurt (Jan) Johnson of Eagan; four treasured grandchildren (Jamie (Nate) Johnson, Jacob (Marisa) Johnson, Reid Johnson, and Brooke Johnson, all of Eagan), and three adored great-grandchildren (Benjamin, Eliza, and Sonja). Further survived by a wealth of siblings-in-law, nephews, nieces, and friends whom he cared for deeply.
Services will be January 18, 2023, 11am, with visitation at 10 am, St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave S, Bloomington. Reception to follow at Mendakota Country Club, 2075 Mendakota Dr, Mendota Heights.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the food bank of your choice.