IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Ralph
Johnson
April 27, 1927 – November 17, 2024
Obituary
Ralph Eugene Johnson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on the afternoon of November 17, 2024 at the age of 97, with his son Scott by his side. Ralph was born on April 27, 1927 in St. Paul, Minnesota; the son of Albin (Obbie) and Esther (Nelson) Johnson. After high school, he immediately entered the United States Army and was a specialist in communications stationed in Panama near the end of World War II.
Ralph then returned to the Twin Cities and became a traveling insurance examiner. While in Kansas City MO, he met nursing student "Fran" Thelma Frances (Rumpf) Johnson. Following a blind date and a whirlwind courtship, they were married in November of 1953. The couple traveled the country together including an extended placement in New York City. The newlyweds enjoyed the excitement of the big city for months before returning to St. Paul, Minnesota to start a family. Their pride and joy, Scott, was born in January of 1956 and daughter Barbara followed in February of 1958.
Ralph and Fran always enjoyed being active in their church, meeting with friends to play cards and visiting family members during vacation trips. Ralph enjoyed many artistic endeavors including painting on tiles, ceramic work, and making paperweights with flowers arranged in plastic resin.
During their retirement years spent in the Florida panhandle, first as "snowbirds" then as homeowners, Ralph and Fran had many wonderful years enjoying the sunshine, warm weather and close friendships there. Ralph belonged to a group of wood carvers in Destin where he perfected his carving skills and enjoyed the time sharing his art and stories with anyone interested in listening. Although Ralph had to end his carving and artwork due to his advancing vision loss, his love of storytelling and joking with others continued up to his very last days.
Ralph's greatest joy was his time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren especially when they were young. He loved seeing the great grandchildren in photos, hearing about their activities and was overjoyed when they would visit him in person.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Fran in 2009 after a long and courageous fight against Ovarian Cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Geraldine (Johnson) Bauman and cousin, Tom Swanson (wife Vonnie).
Ralph is survived by his children, Scott and wife Joan, their children Evan, Nicholas and Mitchell Johnson, stepdaughter Traci Flitsch and great-grandchildren Marissa, Ashton and Tyler Flitsch. Daughter Barbara (Johnson) Sachs and her children Melissa Sachs Olson and husband Christopher Olson and their three children Emma Frances, Kate Cora and Anna Hazel Olson. Barbara's son Matthew Sachs and his wife Amanda Brown, their child Suzanna "Zuzu" Margaret Sachs Brown. Many caring nieces and nephews and cousin Vonnie Swanson.
The family extends their sincere thanks to the wonderful caregivers, nurses and staff at New Perspectives Senior Living Center in West Bend, Wisconsin for their compassionate care for the last six years. The family would also like to thank the Hospice care team from Harmony Cares-Milwaukee, who showed exceptional compassion assisting Dad with comforting daily care in his final months of life.
In lieu of plants, flowers or other gifts, the family suggests contributions be made in Ralph's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W. Paradise Dr. West Bend WI 53095). Visitation will be from 11:00 am until 11:45 am. The service will be at 12:00 pm with Military Honors to follow.
Ralph then returned to the Twin Cities and became a traveling insurance examiner. While in Kansas City MO, he met nursing student "Fran" Thelma Frances (Rumpf) Johnson. Following a blind date and a whirlwind courtship, they were married in November of 1953. The couple traveled the country together including an extended placement in New York City. The newlyweds enjoyed the excitement of the big city for months before returning to St. Paul, Minnesota to start a family. Their pride and joy, Scott, was born in January of 1956 and daughter Barbara followed in February of 1958.
Ralph and Fran always enjoyed being active in their church, meeting with friends to play cards and visiting family members during vacation trips. Ralph enjoyed many artistic endeavors including painting on tiles, ceramic work, and making paperweights with flowers arranged in plastic resin.
During their retirement years spent in the Florida panhandle, first as "snowbirds" then as homeowners, Ralph and Fran had many wonderful years enjoying the sunshine, warm weather and close friendships there. Ralph belonged to a group of wood carvers in Destin where he perfected his carving skills and enjoyed the time sharing his art and stories with anyone interested in listening. Although Ralph had to end his carving and artwork due to his advancing vision loss, his love of storytelling and joking with others continued up to his very last days.
Ralph's greatest joy was his time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren especially when they were young. He loved seeing the great grandchildren in photos, hearing about their activities and was overjoyed when they would visit him in person.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Fran in 2009 after a long and courageous fight against Ovarian Cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Geraldine (Johnson) Bauman and cousin, Tom Swanson (wife Vonnie).
Ralph is survived by his children, Scott and wife Joan, their children Evan, Nicholas and Mitchell Johnson, stepdaughter Traci Flitsch and great-grandchildren Marissa, Ashton and Tyler Flitsch. Daughter Barbara (Johnson) Sachs and her children Melissa Sachs Olson and husband Christopher Olson and their three children Emma Frances, Kate Cora and Anna Hazel Olson. Barbara's son Matthew Sachs and his wife Amanda Brown, their child Suzanna "Zuzu" Margaret Sachs Brown. Many caring nieces and nephews and cousin Vonnie Swanson.
The family extends their sincere thanks to the wonderful caregivers, nurses and staff at New Perspectives Senior Living Center in West Bend, Wisconsin for their compassionate care for the last six years. The family would also like to thank the Hospice care team from Harmony Cares-Milwaukee, who showed exceptional compassion assisting Dad with comforting daily care in his final months of life.
In lieu of plants, flowers or other gifts, the family suggests contributions be made in Ralph's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W. Paradise Dr. West Bend WI 53095). Visitation will be from 11:00 am until 11:45 am. The service will be at 12:00 pm with Military Honors to follow.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph Johnson, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
December
7
Phillip Funeral Home Chapel
11:00 - 11:45 am
Memorial Service
December
7
Phillip Funeral Home Chapel
Starts at 12:00 pm
Ralph Johnson's Guestbook
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