Obituary of Wayne Johnson

Wayne Kenneth Johnson was born at the Community Hospital in Princeton, MN on November 3rd, 1954 to Carolyn and Oliver Johnson. Wayne passed away peacefully at home on January 9, 2014 with his daughter by his side at the age of 59 years. At 17 years old he graduated from Anoka High School and after working one year he saved enough money to enroll into college and attended Anoka Technical Institute for the Electrical & Mechanical Building Maintenance Program. At 19 years of age he acquired a corvette convertible and Harley Davidson to which he was very proud. By April of 1975 he had graduated from Anoka Tech and was working for University Hospitals by July with the job title of Mechanic. In the summer of 1972 while attending Gary Lord's wedding he shared the first dance with his (future) girlfriend, Jodi Ann Long. After dating, in February of 1979, he became the proud father of daughter, Randi Jo Long. While working and being a great father, he enjoyed fixing many types of vehicles, as well as helping his mother, who resided next door, with any maintenance issues. He also enjoyed the company of about six different dogs; the last four of them being golden retrievers. On April 5, 2001, Randi gave Wayne close to 80% of her liver due to a virus acquired while working at the University. Thankfully they paid for the successful liver transplant surgery and they enjoyed many more happy years enjoying the activities he loved best which included riding motorcycles, dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and of course riding snowmobiles. In March of 2011, he retired from the University with over 37 years of service. He enjoyed "retirement" life spending more of that time with family as well as finishing up some finished projects. Wayne is preceded in death by his father, Oliver Johnson. Survived by his mother, Carolyn Johnson; only one child, Randi Jo Long; brothers, Ron Larson and Allan (Jo Ann) Johnson; sister, Trudy (Brent) Lee; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.