Phil Johnson

Philip James Johnson, Sr. was born October 1, 1923, to Lewis and Laura (Froland) Johnson in Cottonwood, Minnesota. He attended school through the tenth grade in Cottonwood. Phil started shining shoes at Bulowsky's Confectionary in Marshall, Minnesota at the age of eight and from then on never stopped working. Phil served his country honorably in the United States Army in Europe from 1944-1946. He was part of Company B-137th Armored Ordinance Maintenance 3rd Army Division which was a part of the liberating force in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. While in Europe, Phil was able to attend part of the war crimes tribunals in Nuremberg. Phil was united in marriage to Winnie Holland when he was nineteen years old, with daughters Sandra and Bonnie born to them. Winnie died in a car accident in 1951. In 1953, Phil was united in marriage Verona Gerdes. This marriage was blessed with three children, Phil Jr. (Buckwheat), Cindy (CJ) and Rudy. Phil and Verona lived and worked side by side for fifty-two years before Verona passed away in 2005. Phil and Mary Ann Anderson were united in marriage in 2007 and Phil became a much loved step-father, grandfather and great-grandfather to Mary Ann's fam...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

. Phil worked for his step-father, Bill Mooers, selling farm equipment in the 1950's. During this time, he began his life's vocation as a building contractor whose main goal was to provide affordable homes to working families. Over the years, Phil built over 250 homes in and around Windom. Phil's second career was buying and selling surplus building supplies. He has built several warehouses to store these supplies and to offer as leased space to local businesses. He and his son, Buckwheat, have continued this business to the present time. Throughout his life, Phil was an active participant in Windom's community affairs, a passionate and vocal advocate for the well-being of both the community and its individuals. In 1997, Phil was a recipient of the Mayor's Medal of Honor. In later years, Phil could often be found in both McDonald's and Hardee's, drinking coffee, eating ice cream, and chatting with people of all ages. Phil is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Anderson of Windom; his children, Bonnie (John) Clasen of Siren, WI; Phil Jr.-Buckwheat (Sonya) Johnson of Windom; Cindy (Jim) Sivahop of Elizabeth, CO; Rudy (Rita) Johnson of Hopkins; step-children, Linda ("Barney") Chaussee of Lake Crystal; Michael (Lois) Anderson of Windom; Tammy Anderson (Ken Janovsky) of Windom; Susan (Tom) Anderson of Stillwater; 13 grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; ; sisters, Crystal Stassen, Marlene Smith, and DeNeen Thomas; and many nieces and nephews. Phil is preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Winnie and Verona; one daughter, Sandra; one brother, Harlan; and two sisters, June and Carol. Memorials are preferred to BARC, Sanford Hospice, the American Legion and/or the Baptist Haiti Mission.