David Johannsen, 1940-2018

Published 12:02 am Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Funeral services for David J. Johannsen will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Kurt Farrell will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in St. Theodore Cemetery.

David passed away with his wife at his side on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at his home in Alden.  He was 78.

David J. Johannsen was born April 30, 1940, in Lyle, to John and Marjorie (Ayers) Johannsen.

David Johannsen

David was the youngest of six children, and was raised in Lyle. After graduating from high school, David enlisted in the United States Army, where he served his country for two years until his honorable discharge. David returned to Freeborn County, where he was employed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation as a highway maintenance worker and heavy equipment operator until his retirement in 1986.

On Dec. 5, 1981, David was united in marriage to Patricia J. (Stephan) in Albert Lea.  The couple were members at St. Theodore Catholic Church. He was also a past member of the Eagles Club and Sons of American Legion.

In his earlier years, David enjoyed helping his sons in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He enjoyed fishing, camping and being outdoors with his family. He also loved working on cars, restoring lawn tractors, going to tractor pulls, playing guitar and giving his grandchildren rides on the gator. Family vacations were a favorite pasttime of David’s. Favorite trips included taking the family to South Dakota and New York and going to visit family in places like Idaho, Washington and Michigan. He also enjoyed going to watch the grandchildren — always cheering them on in sporting and school events. David was a volunteer for many different places.  He mowed the St. Theodore Cemetery for almost nine years and was a shop steward for 14 years for Local No. 106 for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, where he also served as vice president for eight years.

He is preceded in death by parents John and Marjorie; mother- and father-in-law Henry and Florence Stephan; brother, Richard; sisters Alice (Harlan) Schultz and Fern (Roy) Muckey; and brothers-in-law Merle Hobbs and Don Ziegler.

David is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Johannsen, of Alden; sons Jewell (Ella) Johannsen of Albert Lea, Stephen (Rachel) Johannsen of New Milford, Connecticut, Jason Johannsen of Faribault and Brian (Melissa) Johannsen of Albert Lea; grandchildren Jerek, Macy, Zachary, Cody, Adam, Katie, Danielle, Erika, Kelsey and Kaitlyn; sisters Marilyn Hobbs and Dona Ziegler; brothers-in-law Henry (Norine) Stephan and Ronald (Tina) Stephan; and sister-in-law, Lois Stephan; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice program and staff for their tireless support over the past few weeks.