Henry L. Johnson, age 88, of Harris, died August 15, 2017 at the Lodge in Burnsville. The funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 19th at Strike Life Tributes – Isanti. Visitation will be 1 hour before the service on Saturday.
Henry (Bill) Louis Johnson passed peacefully on August 15, 2017 at The Lodge in Burnsville with his daughters by his side. He was born to Henry Russell and Evelyn Irene (Lawrence) Johnson on September 14, 1928 in Minneapolis, MN. The family moved to North Branch, MN and grew to include his sister, Ellen Mae and brother, David Andrew.
Their family later moved to Baltimore, MD where Henry graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1947. On May 10, 1947 he married Doris Louise Rayman and soon had a son, Henry Louis Jr., and a daughter, Sandra Louise. In 1951, Henry moved his new family back to Minneapolis, MN where daughter, Kathy Ann was born. Shortly thereafter, he bought his first home in Richfield, MN.
Henry was employed as a bricklayer; a skilled trade that later led to him developing his own masonry contracting business, which he ran for nearly 40 years. His specialty was designing fireplaces but he also worked on churches, hospitals, shopping centers and the taconite furnaces in Silver Bay. His business flourished and in 1963 he moved his family to Burnsville, MN. After retiring from contracting, he made a major change in his life by buying a refrigeration repair business in Harris, MN and moving there with his wife. Henry and Doris were later divorced. Henry remained in Harris until his ill health prompted his move to The Lodge in Burnsville.
Henry was known for many things. He was a jack of all trades; masonry work, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, electronic repair, ham radio, auto mechanics, refrigeration, you name it he tried it. Henry was ready and willing to help anyone who needed it. He was very proud of his service in the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol serving for many years as Wing Commander. Henry was also a Master Mason for over 50 years and was presented with the Hiram Award by Jasper Lodge No. 164, one of the highest honors bestowed on a member of a Masonic Lodge.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, former wife, son and two grandsons. He is survived by his daughters, Sandra (Harvey) TePoel and Kathy (Jerry) Johnson; daughter-in-law, Rodica Johnson; 7 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; 1 niece and 5 nephews.