Richard Louis Johnson, 88, of Germantown, WI, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at his home. A family graveside service was held Sept. 17, 2016, with Pastor David Natzke officiating at Grandview Cemetery, Menomonie, WI.  Dick was born Jan. 21, 1928, in Two Rivers, WI to Walter August and Rose Ann Poirrier Johnson. In 1945, after his high school graduation, he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Panamint, in the North Pacific Ocean; was positioned 18 miles off Bikini Atoll when the testing of nuclear weapons continued, leaving no doubt that atomic power was the most powerful and most devastating weapon created by man. After his military service, he continued his education at Stout Institute (Stout State/UW-Stout) in Menomonie, WI receiving his teaching degree in 1952 and his masters in 1957. On Aug. 28, 1951 Dick married Janis Ann Oebser in Menomonie, WI. From 1952-1955 Dick taught Metalwork at Ishpeming High School in Ishpeming, MI; in 1955 he moved to Marshfield, WI and spent the next 33 years teaching Metal Technology courses to approximately 3500 students at Marshfield Senior High School, until his retirement in 1988. Being motivated by them as much as he tried to motivate, he was a project oriented teacher and a believer of vocational type high school courses where students, especially those who don’t continue their education after high school, developed hands-on skills. During retirement, knife making and knife shows became his passion or as he called it his “lifeline”; as of 9/23/2011 he had made and sold 2,296 knives.

~He who works with his hands is a laborer; He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman; He who works with his hands and his head and heart is an artist~St. Francis of Assisi

Having a love for gardening, his pride and joy were his bright red geraniums, tomatoes, and zucchini. His ultimate love was for his family, Dick is survived by his loving wife, Janis; sons, Joel (Diane Britten) Johnson, Ripon, WI; Jay (Karen Kelly) Johnson, Elgin, MN; Paul (Julie Krecak) Johnson, Colgate, WI; and daughter, Jill Johnson Sorenson, Menomonee Falls, WI; and granddaughters, Jessica Johnson (Glenn) Fischer, Sherwood, WI; Jenna Johnson (Albert/JR) Walker, Green Lake, WI; and grandsons, Christopher (special friend Stacie Newmann) Johnson, Rochester, MN; Daniel (Sonja LaHaye Sommerfeldt) Johnson, Rochester, MN; Matthew, Thomas, and Brian Johnson, Colgate, WI; Eric and Sean Sorenson, Menomonee Falls, WI; and his great-grandchildren, Ben and Charlie Fischer, Sherwood, WI and Clare and Albert Walker, Green Lake, WI. He is further survived by his brother-in-law and his wife, Marlin and Sharon Oebser, Menomonie, WI; his aunt Mary Jeanne McIntosh, Indian Rocks Beach, FL; his sister-in-law, Dotty Johnson, Fair Oaks, CA and nieces and nephews. Preceding Dick in death are his parents, Walter and Rose; in-laws, Walter and Agnes Oebser; brother, Robert Johnson; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou (Johnson) and Lyle Tank; brother-in-law and his wife, Bernard and Genevieve Oebser.

Memorials may be given in his name to the Salvation Army, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission or to the charity/organization of your choice.

The family wishes to thank his doctors and the staff at the Cancer Center- Froedtert Hospital and Community Memorial Hospital; and Mary, along with all the loving, caring, and helpful Hospice care providers.