Kenneth L. Johnson
BLACK EARTH–Kenneth Lein Johnson, 91, of 4557 Old Indian Tr., Black Earth., passed away on Nov. 6, 2021, at Heartland Country Village nursing home,1218 State St. in Black Earth.
Ken was born on April 13, 1930, in Black Earth, to Morris L. and Fern (Rule) Johnson. He proudly served in the Wisconsin National Guard and enjoyed working for American Family Insurance where he served as an Information Systems (IS) manager and later retired as an agent in 2000.
Ken enjoyed golf, skiing, traveling, and crossword puzzles with Ruth-Ann (Hayes) Johnson, his wife of 54 years. In 2013, Ken married Lois O’Connell, whom he affectionately called “Loiee”. Ken was an avid sports fan and especially relished watching the UW-Madison Badgers, Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Cubs, and horse racing. He was a wealth of knowledge, a great storyteller and had a great sense of humor that was appreciated by all.
He is survived by his wife, Lois; his two children, Kaia (John Lilja) Comeau and Kerstan “Kurt” Johnson; two cherished granddaughters, Aubrey (Nathan) Schuster and Mariah (Sean) Bayer; seven step-children, Connie (Steve) Lickel, Dan (Mera) O’Connell, Keith (Kim) O’Connell, Lori (Scott) Moe, Dennis (Toni) O’Connell, Joe (Ann) O’Connell, and Ilene (Pat) Helmenstine; two sisters, Phyllis (Scott) Hottmann and Karen Niederklofer; five great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
Ken was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth-Ann (Jan. 22, 2007); his parents, Morris (Jan. 11, 1973) and Fern Johnson Wahlberg (Dec. 21, 1998); his stepfather Victor Ewald Wahlberg (Oct. 9, 1969); his two sisters, Anita Fern Dosie (Dec. 18, 2020), and Marjorie LaDell "Marge" Aeschlimann (July 3, 2019); and son-in-law, Robert James Comeau (March 18, 2011).
A visitation for Ken was held at Gunderson Camacho Black Earth Funeral Home on Nov. 14, 2021, followed by a memorial service at Vermont Lutheran Church, 9886 Vermont Church Rd., Black Earth, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2021, with the Rev. Barry Hoerz officiating. Interment was at Vermont Lutheran Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the helpful staff at Heartland Country Village for their loving care provided to Ken and his family. Gunderson Camacho Funeral Home, 1710 Center St., Black Earth, served the family.
