Thomas R. Johnson
February 13, 1947 - December 11, 2020
Obituary
LODI - Thomas R. Johnson, age 73, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 11, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He was born on February 13, 1947, in Portage, the son of the late E. Harold and Ethel (Paterson) Johnson and was raised on the farm they worked west of Lodi.
After graduating from Lodi High School in 1965, Tom received his bachelor's degree from the UW Madison and furthered his education and experience by earning his master's degree while attending Harvard. He started his career in Madison in the transportation industry. Tom soon became known and sought after for managing companies to review their operations and make them run more efficiently and profitable. This was a service he would provide for many businesses during his career.
Tom appreciated the outdoors, enjoyed golfing, fishing and was an avid Badger and Packers fan, but treasured most the time he was able to spend with his family.
Tom is survived by his son, Justin (Tammy); granddaughter, Allison, and his partner, Terri Bell.
Private family services will be held. Memorials may be made to the charity of donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Lodi
Funeral & Cremation Care
157 South Main Street
(608) 592-3201
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Memories
EB
Emily Bell
Other •
Tom had such a kind nature and good sense of humor. We’re so glad he was in our lives. You will be sorely missed. Love Emily, Wyatt, and Waylon Bell
JK
JAMES Krenz
Other •
Always remember him showing me how to fish trout in LODI CREEL RIP
DJ
Darlene Johnson
Other •
I will so miss our weekly golf outings. No more pain. Hit 'em straight. Your loving cousin Darlene Johnson
AB
alan buchanan
Other •
I wonder how many people know that the brown trout they catch in the creek below my and Tom's house on Highway K are descendants of the trout Tom and I stocked there over 50 years ago. Tom and I were best friends growing up, fishing, hunting, working together on Spilde's farm, and just hanging out together. I remember the times I would help him sneak out of his basement window after Ethel restricted him to the house for a year due to some kind of trouble he, my brother Dale, and I got into. Later on there were the times when we would head north to the St. Croix Flowage late evening to welcome the next day fishing for northerns from a rented boat. Sometimes we would spend a week there, fishing from dawn to dusk, never keeping a thing after we admired our catch. We solved world problems and, of course, told lies and shared dreams. Eventually I chased my dream to Missouri and, after some wild oat sowing, he did also. It was 40 years before we reconnected and now we can no longer connect on this side of the great divide I already miss his presence and hope to meet him on the other side because we still have some stories to share. He was a truly neat friend and human.
PJ
Perry Johnson
Other •
Of the 13 Johnson cousins Tom and I were closest in age so we interacted quite a bit as kids. Good times. Many of these occurred every New Year's Day when all the Johnsons gathered at the home of Tom's folks. One memorable evening involved a spirited game of caroms with our dads after enjoying one of Ethel's delicious meals. One not-so-memorable time was a late October evening when Tom and I were exploring the creek in back of his house. Upon an attempted crossing I fell in and got completely soaked. The adults were not too happy about this turn of events and we both really "caught it". Hopefully this wasn't the event that led to Tom's grounding mentioned by Alan! Needless to say, we were numbed and saddened to hear of Tom's passing. Rest in peace Tom.