Donald Burnell Johnson

STOUGHTON – Donald B. Johnson, age 89, of Stoughton, died on March 23, 2013, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, Wis. He was born on a farm in Willow Springs Township, LaFayette County, on March 31, 1923, to Glenn and Wanda (Ward) Johnson. He grew up in the Darlington area and after graduating high school he attended UW-Madison on a full academic scholarship. A World War II veteran, he was drafted into the US Navy in 1944 and sent to Oklahoma A&M for specialized electronics training in the IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) program. He was stationed at Navy Yard in Pearl Harbor assigned to the Electronics Lab until he was discharged in 1946. He graduated in 1947 with a degree in Civil Engineering and went to work for Standard Oil in Indiana. Moving back to Darlington a short time later, he was asked to teach grades 4-8 at one of the country schools (The Paper School) for a year. In 1948, he was hired by Mead & Hunt in Madison where he worked until his retirement in 1986, eventually owning a share of the firm. Don was a highly respected Civil Engineer. Licensed to practice in almost every state, he travelled frequently working on a variety of projects – hydroelectric dams, cheese and dairy plants, bridges, and municipal airports. A man who enjoyed working more than anything else, his hobby was farming and all that came with running a farm. He farmed in the Verona and Stoughton areas raising cattle, sheep and chickens in addition to a variety of crops. He also built or remodelled several homes during his lifetime, including a home destroyed by fire in 1974. A habitual list-maker, he never stopped coming up with things to do. In retirement, Don kept a daily journal and was always looking for a project – whether it was refurbishing tractors, helping out his kids with their own projects, or researching his family’s history. He produced several booklets detailing his ancestors’ emigration from Norway and England and their life in the United States. Don was a member of First United Methodist Church in Madison serving on the Board of Trustees for several years as well as serving on the board of the Methodist Hospital. He was a charter member of the Madison West Rotary Club and only stopped attending the weekly luncheons this past fall. Married to Shirley Erickson in 1947 and then to Fonda Conquest Rogers in 1965, Donald had nine children between two marriages, including two of Fonda’s that he loved as his own. He was fond of saying, “I am a poor man with many hungry children,” but that certainly was not the case. He provided well for his children, teaching them all the value of hard work. Don was a man of many talents which he passed on to each of his children so his legacy will live on in them and future generations. Donald is survived by his wife, Fonda; sister, Mildred Mossman; children, Eric, Neil (Pamela), Barbara (Boyce) Puryear, Kristi (Steve) Margis, Donna (Gary) Tarpinian, Jackie (Jamie Jaeger) Gargano, LoRonda (David) Schroeckenthaler and Randy (Nancy) Rogers; former daughter-in-law, Maxine Johnson; former son-in-law, Joseph Gargano; grandchildren, Maria (Brian) Taber, Dan (Colleen) Johnson, Bradley (Mindy) Johnson, Andrew (Michelle Mead) Puryear, Rebecca Martinson, Adam Puryear, Kelsey & Matthew Tarpinian, Monica Johnson, Tristen & Anneliese Gargano, Erika Margis, Tony (Jenny) Schroeckenthaler, Joshua (Amy) Schroeckenthaler, Joe Welborn (Shawn Bollig), Ryan (Kara) Welborn, and Ben Rogers; 10 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harland; son, Donny; and daughter-in-law Patricia. A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave, Madison, WI, on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 11:15 a.m. with luncheon to follow. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, please consider a memorial to be designated at a later date in Donald’s name. The family would like to thank Angela for her special care and Agrace Hospice and its staff for their care and support to Don and his family over the past few months. In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, please consider a memorial to be designated at a later date in Donald’s name. Memorials have been designated to Agrace HospiceCare, First United Methodist Church, and the Madison West Rotary Club. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave, Madison, WI, on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 11:15 a.m. with luncheon to follow.