Mark Johnson

1956 - 2015

Mark Johnson, 59

Champlin, MN

Formerly of St. Cloud

Sept. 17, 1956 - Oct. 12, 2015

Mark Johnson of Champlin died in the early morning of Monday, October 12. He succumbed to complications from cancer and passed surrounded by friends and family.

He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1956 and lived there until moving to Montana to find work and start a family with his wife. They eventually settled in Champlin after he found a job with 3M, where he worked for over 30 years. They bought and paid off a house, raised two children, sent them to college, and helped them buy homes and start families of their own.

With the help of his friends at the club, Mark spent his last 13 years sober, and with the help of his granddaughter, he spent his last 8 years building plywood castles and going to the candy store as often as possible.

Mark believed in asking important questions, and that science and faith both offered good answers. He believed in hard work, taking a nap after Sunday breakfast, and that you can never spend too much money buying a comfortable chair or tipping a waitress. He did not believe those guys on the news that claimed to have found a hailstone in their yard the size of a basketball.

He loved American-made cars, delta blues, white (but not too white) sneakers, and home-cooked meals. He hated cheap screwdrivers and forks with only three tines. He was getting pretty tired of Minnesota winters.

He was preceded in death by his mother MaryAnn, his father Donald, and his brothers Donald and Kim. He's survived by his wife Joan, his children Jennifer Anderson and Daniel Johnson, granddaughter Lilian Anderson, family friend Stephanie Christensen and best friend of 50 years, Mark Wiatrowski.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Union Gospel Mission (www.ugmtc.org).

A memorial open house will be held October 24 from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Champlin Community Center at 12165 Ensign Ave, Champlin, MN.