Clifford Alfred Johnson

Johnson Clifford Alfred Johnson, age 90, died peacefully on November 1 after suffering a stroke on October 27. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward C. and Beda Johnson; brothers and sisters, Edward, Kenneth, Vincent, Howard, Olga and Beata; granddaughter, Julie Halbmaier. He is survived by Marion, his wife of 63 years; sons, James (Joanne), Larry (Sandy), Clifford Bruce (Wanda), and daughter Joy Heimark (Charlie); 10 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. Born June 7, 1912 in Hancock Township, Cliff farmed for most of his life, first near Blakely and Rush River and later in the Carver County community of West Union. He was a life-long member of West Union Lutheran Church and married Marion Sandberg at West Union on August 19, 1939. In 1962 Cliff was elected third district county commissioner in Carver County and served two terms. From 1970-74, Cliff and Marion operated Pebble Beach Resort on Gull Lake near Brainerd. They moved back to West Union in 1974, lived in Belle Plaine from 1984 to 1998, and lived at Westview Acres in Waconia from 1998 to the present. Cliff loved everything in nature and the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking, gardening, woodworking, and traveling. A best guess by family members is that Cliff planted more than 10,000 trees in his lifetime. Visitation at Johnson Funeral Home, Waconia, from 4-8 pm Monday. Funeral service is at 11 am Tuesday at West Union Lutheran Church, with interment and lunch to follow service. Memorials are preferred to West Union Lutheran Church Cemetery Beautification.

Published on November 3, 2002