Martin H. Johnson, Jr.
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Martin H. Johnson, Jr., aged 98, passed away September 12, 2021 at Marquardt Village, Watertown, Wisconsin, in the company of his family and pastor. He was born March 10, 1923, and raised in Stoughton, as the tenth of eleven children born to Martin Hellberg Johnson and Sophie Aminda (Christianson) Johnson. He attended the Norwegian-Danish Methodist Episcopal Church and graduated from Stoughton High School in 1941. He earned degrees in engineering from the University of Wisconsin; graduating at the top of his class in 1945. He married Ruth Helen White on August 24, 1946, and resided primarily in Verona until her death in 2013. They were blessed with five children, Martin H. III, Robert F., Kevin D., Kathryn A., and Suzanne P.
Martin was hired by Ray-O-Vac Company in 1945 and retired 37 years later after serving as Vice-President of Engineering and as Assistant to the President. Martin's great passion beyond family, work, and lutefisk was music. He played guitar and piano and directed choirs, but mostly he shared his singing voice with church, family, and friends.
Martin is survived by two children, Bob (Gwyn) of Riverside, California, and Kathy (Dennis) Paton of Oregon, Wisconsin; 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, three children, his parents, and all siblings.
A celebration of his life is planned for spring 2022. Memorials to Marquardt Village, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Glenwood Moravian Community Church would be appreciated. www.hafemeisterfh.com