Irwin “Irv” E. Johnson was welcomed home by God on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at Marshfield Medical Center surrounded by his loved ones.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Lincoln Avenue, Marshfield with Pastor Dr. Laurie Brubaker Davis officiating. Visitation for family and friends will begin one hour before the service at the church. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Burial will follow at McMillian Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Town of McMillan, Marathon County, where military rites will be performed by American Legion Post 54, Marshfield. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Irv was born August 16, 1923, to Martin and Ida (Heltne) Johnson of Modena, Wisconsin. He graduated from Mondovi High School in 1942. He was a member of the football team and co-captain of the basketball team.
Irv enlisted in the Navy on December 5, 1942, at Great Lakes Naval Station graduating as honor man of his company. He was also a member of the Great Lakes Naval Track Team. While stationed at the Naval Training Station at Navy Pier in Chicago, he was a sprinter on the Navy Pier Track Team that won the National AAU meet held at Soldier Field in Chicago in August 1943.
In 1944, Irv saw duty in the South Pacific as an arial gunner (AMM 2/C) on a Martin PBM Mariner seaplane performing anti-submarine patrol and air-sea rescue missions. He was at Tokyo Bay where he witnessed the Japanese surrender ceremonies on September 2, 1945, aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, from the vantage point about ½ mile away aboard the U.S.S. Cumberland Sound, a seaplane tender. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in February 1946.
Irv enrolled at Eau Claire Teacher’s College in the fall of 1946, Graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. While in college at Eau Claire, Irv earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. He was also captain of the track team in 1948.
After graduating from college, he accepted his first teaching position and was head basketball coach at Durand High School from 1950-1953. He left Durand for Marshfield and accepted a teaching and coaching job at Purdy Junior High (Marshfield) in the fall of 1953. Irv retired from teaching and coaching at Marshfield Junior High in 1985. He was also a WIAA basketball and football referee for many years. He is credited with starting Track and Field, Wrestling and Tennis at the Junior High level. He was inducted into the Marshfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
Irv earned his Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Athletics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956. There he fell in love with the Wisconsin Badgers and became an avid fan. He was a long-time season ticket holder and could always provide both historic and current Badger statistics. If the Badgers were playing, Irv was either in attendance or watching and cheering Bucky to victory!
He married the love of his life, Nancy Sannes, on July 31, 1957, at the Chapel in the Sky in Chicago, IL. They had one son, Dolf Johnson, of Marshfield. Together they enjoyed many skiing trips to the Upper Peninsula and the slopes of Colorado. He and Nancy also traveled to Hawaii, numerous European Countries and even to Russia during the Cold War. Their zest for learning and experiencing different cultures was a central tenet in their lives.
Serving his country and his community was important to Irv. He volunteered and supported numerous organizations to improve the quality of life in Marshfield and abroad. After his retirement, Irv volunteered at the Cardiac Rehab Center of the Marshfield Clinic for twenty-one years. He and Nancy were also active YMCA members and donors. They chaired the 2016 YMCA Annual Campaign. Even in his later years, Irv loved going to the YMCA where he welcomed all and loved interacting with the children.
He enjoyed biking and running, participating in many half marathons. He believed strongly in staying active and enjoying each day. He savored eating at the Kitchen Table and gathering with his dear ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) friends. The laughter was loud and the conversation vibrant when he was part of the group.
Irv is survived by his wife, Nancy, beloved son, Dolf and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Martin and Ida Johnson of Mondovi, WI and his ten brothers and sisters (Elmer Heltne, Esther, Grace, Edith, Arnold, Bernard, Evelyn, Russell, Melvin Johnson, and Ella (Joe) Lusiak).
Irv will be remembered for his strong faith, love of life, many stories, fabulous jokes, and his hearty laugh that brought joy to so many. He will be deeply missed.
The family would like to thank Dr. Gregory Anderson and the Urology Dept., the Heart Failure Clinic and Palliative Care at Marshfield Medical Center for their kindness and care. Memorials will be designated at a future date.
Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com
Author: News Desk
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