Obituary of J. Warren Johnson

J. Warren Johnson, 89, of Cambridge, formerly of St. Paul passed away on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. He was born February 1, 1920 in St. Paul, Minnesota to A. Edwin and Adine (Carlson) Johnson. He grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul Johnson High School in 1937 and was later voted the Who's Who Alumnus of The Year. He went on to attend Bethel College and Seminary where he earned a Bachelor's of Divinity Degree and Masters of Theology Degree. He also attended the University of Minnesota where he received a Bachelor's degree in Hospital Administration. On November 11, 1943 he married his first wife Ruth K. Olson. Early in his ministry he pastored several churches in Minnesota; Battle Lake Baptist, Oxford Baptist in Isanti County, and Emmanuel Baptist in Mora. In later years he also served as interim pastor at First Baptist in Fergus Falls and Calvary Baptist in St. Paul. In June 1944 Warren and Ruth were commissioned as missionaries with the Baptist General Conference. They served in India from 1945 to 1967, Ethiopia from 1967 to 1976 and the Philippines from 1978 to 1981. While in India he was hospital administrator and started The Bible Institute and Bible Planting. They retired from Mission work in 1985 and moved to the east side of St. Paul. Ruth passed away in 1988. On December 29, 1990 he married Ruth E. Anderson and they made their home in St. Paul. In 2003 they moved to Mill Ridge Commons in Cambridge and in September of that year Warren moved to the Grandview Christian Home. Warren was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Maplewood, but made several friends at First Baptist Church while living in Cambridge. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Jared Thomas Johnson and wife Ruth K. Johnson. Warren is survived by wife Ruth E. Johnson, children Tom and wife Eileen Johnson of Woodbury, Kristine and husband Cal Otto of St. Louis Park, Jornadine and husband Wendell Christenson of Eden Prairie, nine grandchildren, Kathy (Kent) Meyer, Joel (Shannon) Johnson, Scott (Suzanne) Otto, Kay (Chad) Gifford, Erin (Joel) Vasser, Nicole Christenson, Ryan Christenson, Rochelle Christenson, and Kyle Christenson, ten great grandchildren, Ben Meyer, Max Meyer, Megan Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Riley Gifford, Brynlee Gifford, Ruth Otto, Rachel Otto, Alyce Vasser, and Sofia Halverson, step children Priscilla Anderson of San Diego, CA, Dan and wife Barb Anderson of Buffalo, MN, Tim and wife Robin Anderson of Otsego, six step grandchildren, 11 step great grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.