Johnson, Paul O. 84, was born in Minneapolis on February 2, 1937 to Dr. Andrew Richard and LaVerne D. Johnson. He passed away unexpectedly on September 25, 2021 in Lilydale, MN of natural causes. Paul was raised in Isanti, Minnesota largely by a single mother, following the untimely death of his father in 1943. He was an active and musically inclined student who graduated from Cambridge High School in 1954. After a brief detour at the U of M, he attended Carleton College, completing a B.A. degree in economics in 1958. He earned his JD at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was an editor for the Law Review. After graduation in 1961, he joined the Air National Guard, completing his military service in 1967. He enthusiastically entered the business world and, after a brief stint at prestigious law firm, Paul rose through the corporate ranks, eventually serving, as a senior officer, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer, and a member of the senior management committee at Green Giant Co. and then HB Fuller Co. After this successful run, he retired at 51 to pursue his many developing passions. Paul spent the remainder of his life being, variously, a vintner, farmer, world traveler, sailor, avid Gopher fan, hearing loss and education activist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. After becoming a Master Gardener, he turned his Sogn Valley farmstead into a vineyard. In addition to splitting his time between a cabin in Northern Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and a beloved place in Florida, he traveled extensively throughout the world, hiking the arctic circle, sailing the coast of Turkey and Thailand and innumerable other adventures in between. At the time of his passing, he was planning one last trip around the world. Above all else, however, Paul devoted countless hours and financial resources to such charitable interests as the Boy Scouts of America, various educational causes and interests, hearing loss issues, including personally "looping" over 25 churches across the country, and other worthy organizations, both local and national. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dr. Alan Johnson. He is survived by his beloved dogs, Bella and Rory; son Scott (Lesley Brooks); daughters Paula (Mark Rehder) and Amy (Dave De Jong); grandchildren Gus and Addy Brooks-Johnson, Charles and Lydia Rehder, Abe, Cecelia and Louis De Jong; sister-in-law Jeannine Johnson; nephews Gregg and Rick Johnson; niece Betsy Johnson and many dear friends. A celebration of life will take place at Faith Lutheran Church in Isanti, MN on Monday, November 29th, with a visitation at 10 am and service at 11 am.

Published on October 3, 2021