Winfield Johnson

Johnson, Rev. Winfield V.
Beloved Father, Grandfather & Great-grandfather

Passed away June 13, 2012 at the age of 96 after a life filled with devotion to God, country and family. Preceded in death by wife Marjorie, son Craig, and granddaughter Elizabeth. Winfield was born on May 31, 1916 in Duluth, MN. He was a 1933 graduate of Duluth Denfeld and went on to graduate from St. Olaf College in 1939. While at St. Olaf he was a stand- out defenseman on the MIAC co-championship hockey teams of 1938 and 1939. He was a 1943 graduate of Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul. He was ordained the same year to serve as a chaplain with the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War and retired from the US Naval Reserve in 1976 at the rank of Commander. He began serving congregations in 1946 at Franklin and Fairfax, MN, and in 1950 at Glen Head, Long Island, NY. While serving in Glen Head, he earned his Masters Degree in Religious Education from New York University. In April 1958, he became pastor of Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, St. Paul, MN. While serving at Christ Lutheran he was also a part-time instructor in the Religion department at Augsburg College from 1961-1964. He retired from Christ Lutheran in 1980 when he and Marjorie moved to their lake home in Glen, MN. Even in his retirement he answered calls to serve as interim pastor for several congregations in northern Minnesota. In 2008 he and Marjorie moved to the assisted living Heritage Apartments at the Lyngblomsten health care facility in St. Paul, MN. Following Marjorie's death in 2009, he continued his pastoral duties by visiting with patients in the long term care facility. He also joined the singing group at Lyngblomsten and received the title "vocal artist". He is survived by his children Roslyn (Gilbert) Hancock, Ronald (Jeanne), and Kathryn (David) Olinger; grandchildren, Jonathan, Jeremy (Jessica), Joshua (Ashley) Hancock; Devonlee and Ashley Johnson; Theresa (Andrew) Wedell, Derek (Gretchen) Johnson; Alex (Nick) and Nathan Olinger; great-grandchildren, Grace Hancock, Jack and Katie Wedell, and Aaron Johnson as well as many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Service Tuesday, June 19, 11:00 A.M. at CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH ON CAPITOL HILL, 105 West University Avenue, Saint Paul. Visitation one hour prior to the service at church. Memorials are preferred to Christ Lutheran Church Foundation or donor's choice. Private interment at Fort Snelling will be held at a later date.