Verne C. Johnson

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Johnson, Verne C. 7/20/1925 -11/2/2012 Former MN Legislator, General Mills Executive, and Public Policy Leader. Verne joined his loving wife of almost 55 years, Carol, in heaven after valiantly battling cancer for 2 years. As his final days neared, he was surrounded by friends and family who shared memories of a life of significance. His central concerns were always his faith, family, friends, and living with fulfillment and purpose. Public policy and revitalizing Minnesota were his primary lifelong passions. Verne graduated from Southwest High School in 1942 and then spent 3 years in the Pacific with the US Army during WWII. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1948, he received his Law Degree from the University of Minnesota three years later. Fresh out of law school, he helped build the Young Republican League from 800 members to over 3000 during a 3-year period. During this time, he led a grass-roots effort to elect Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Republican candidate for President, an effort that launched Ike's successful candidacy for President known as the Miracle of Minnesota. With a taste for public service, he became a State Legislator at the age of 25 representing Southwest Minneapolis. He served one term before joining Congressman Dr. Walter Judd in Washington DC as his Chief of Staff. Verne and Carol moved back to Minneapolis in 1957 when Verne became Executive Director of the Citizens League. During his ten years as head of the league, Verne presided over a glorious period of public policy in Minnesota as the League worked closely with local and state governments to improve public policy in the Metropolitan Area and beyond. Verne expanded the League's mission from research to action, which resulted in a variety of achievements, including the establishment of the Metropolitan Council. The work was very demanding and with young children at home, Verne left the Citizens League in 1967 to become Vice President of Strategic Planning for General Mills. He succeeded at General Mills during a time of unprecedented growth through acquisition, but found a way to always prioritize family dinners at 5:00 and watch his kids' sports events. He retired in 1982 from his Strategic Planning position and then led General Mills' philanthropic efforts. During his tenure, he pioneered a for-profit model of corporate philanthropy which was emulated by other companies nationwide. In this capacity, he developed the National Chronic Care Consortium for rethinking long-term care, and Elder Homestead Homes, one of the first elderly care centers which provided a place for the non-chronically impaired elderly to live and receive skilled nursing care. In 2005, at the age of 80, he established the Civic Caucus, a group of primarily retired public policy leaders focused on making Minnesota a leading state in the areas of health, education, and welfare. The Civic Caucus meets weekly, hosting thought leaders in various fields and disseminating non-partisan electronic papers to over 3500 citizen members. Verne chaired this group until he passed, viewing it as one of his most inspiring and worthwhile efforts. Verne served as a mentor to many, including several young adults who consulted with him weekly for advice, support, and encouragement. He was always passionate about supporting underprivileged youth, and in 2011 co-founded Venture Academy, a charter middle-high school using personalized learning and technology to inspire kids to greatness. Venture Academy was a recent recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Next Generation award and is poised to open in south Minneapolis next fall with 120 students. Verne served on the Board of Venture Academy. Equally important were his "gab with gramps" sessions with his grandchildren, an event that happened each time they were in town. He would prepare a detailed agenda for each session, focusing on their goals, pursuits, and passions. This created an extremely warm and close family relationship. Verne's favorite passage was by Marianne Williamson: "We are all assigned a piece of the garden, a corner of the universe, that is ours to transform. Our corner of the universe is our own life - our relationships, our homes, our work, our current circumstances - exactly as they are. Every situation we find ourselves in is an opportunity, perfectly planned by the Holy Spirit to teach love." He carefully cultivated his garden, beginning with his family and friends, and extending to the state of Minnesota and beyond. He believed in every individual he encountered, and never ceased to have faith in their ability to improve their lives and impact others. We know that he is carefully tending his new garden, and living the well-rewarded life of a humble and faithful servant of God. As he closed each and every daily email to his family: "The best is yet to come!" Verne was preceded in death by his mom and dad, Hilding and Edith, and his sister, Ione. He is survived by his brother Dennis; his son, Dwight and his family Laura and Lucas of Fountain Hills, Arizona; his son Ron and his family Karen, Elizabeth and Will of Atherton, California; and his daughter Diane Flynn and her family Mark, Lisa, Christine and Matthew of Menlo Park, California. In lieu of flowers, his family would appreciate memorial gifts be given in his honor to either Youth Frontiers, Venture Academy or Twin Cities Rise. Interment: Saturday, November 10, Lane 2 at 9 AM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN. On Saturday, November 10 at noon will be a "celebration of life" service with visitation one hour prior at Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prarie, MN. Public visitation will be held on Friday, November 9 from 5:30-7pm at: Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100

Published on November 4, 2012