Chester “Chet” Johnson

Chet (dad, grandpa, great grandpa), entered eternal life on February 23, 2025. Born on July 29, 1930 to Karl Johnson and Amy (Peterson) Johnson, both immigrants of Sweden. He was extremely proud of his Swedish heritage.

Lutefisk was a longstanding tradition as he grew up and he continued that tradition raising his children. It was the smell of Christmas to all that could endure it. Which wasn’t many.

Chet enlisted in the Navy Reserves in June, 1949, then the Navy Seabees, which was the Navel Construction Force in December 1950, where he served until he was honorably discharged on October 4, 1954. He loved to tell stories of building air runways in Guantanamo Bay, going across the border into Mexico when on furlough, his time spent in Corpus Christi and of course his start at the Great Lakes Naval Station.

Four months after his discharge, he married his sweetheart, Lillian (Kramer) Johnson in Chicago, and they were married for 62 years until Lill’s passing in 2017. They raised three daughters, Pat Harper, Nancy (Roger) Watry, and Mary Jane (Greg) Zeske.

Chester was a service repairman for Sears Roebuck for 30-plus years. He started his career in Chicago and transferred to Rhinelander in 1969 retiring in 1990. Chances are if you had an appliance that needed repair in the ‘70s and ‘80s, he was at your house. He was very proud of his family and enjoyed time he spent with them. Socializing with friends over a beer, fishing and tending to his yard were all things that brought him great joy. He always said he lived in vacation land and never had a desire or interest to traveling elsewhere because he truly loved northern Wisconsin.

Chester is survived by his daughters Nancy and Mary Jane, grandchildren, Nathan (Samantha) Hall, Erin Wilmot, Benjamin (Lisa) Hall, Marshall (Chrissi) Watry, Sarah (James) Schmidt, Shonda (Reed) Bartsch, Jeremy (Michelle) Mortensen, Timothy (Sara) Mortensen, Brian (Kristina) Pelkola, Kristen (Billy) Stoll, and 18 great-grandchildren — Cashton and Macklin Hall, Brook, McKenzie and Chase Wilmot, Henry Hall, Kendall, Camden, Hadley and Harper Watry, Holleigh and Jameson Schmidt, Lilly and Jonathan Stoll, Sophia Pelkola, Lon Bartsch III, Avayah Mortensen, and Connor Mortensen. He is also survived by his favorite niece Bev Johnson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Lill, daughter Pat, infant son, granddaughter Allison, brothers Al and Harry and sister Shirley.

A very special thank you to his neighbor Dick, who always looked out for him. They were more like brothers than neighbors. The Aspirus Hospice Team, especially Nurse Jen, who took such great care of dad the last 15 months allowing him to live independently. Also, thank you to the staff at Seasons of Life in Woodruff. Even though dad’s stay there was short, we all became extended family in just days.

Visitation for Chet will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. with memorial services following at 11 a.m., all at the First Congregational United Church of Christ. The Reverend Dale Bishop will be officiating. Interment will be at a later date in the Northland Memorial Park cemetery with Military Honors. You may leave your private condolences for the Johnson family at www.carlsonfh.com. 

The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414) is serving the Johnson family.