Fernly Johnson M.D.

1918 - 2014

Fernly E. Johnson, M.D., born to Agda and Ludwig Johnson in Otisco, Minnesota on August 21st, 1918, died August 17th, 2014, in Batavia, Illinois. Resident of the Holmstad Retirement Community in Batavia for the past 23 years. Beloved husband of the late Grace E. (nee Wall) Johnson for 65 years; husband of Marian E. Johnson for eight years; loving father of Dr. Ronald (Lucia), Bruce (Virginia), Carolyn (Dr. Timothy) Thyreen, Dr. Dennis (Carmel), Linda (Fred) Gagliano, Karen (Dr. A. Dexter) Chapin, Rev. Dr. Kenneth (Terry), proud grandfather of 23 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, many step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. Fernly attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Otisco, then attended high school in Waseca, Minnesota and college at North Park College in Chicago and the University of Illinois. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1943 and then served as a physician in the United States Navy until 1947, seeing action in the Pacific Theater, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war he did a surgical residency at Hines VA Hospital and then was in private practice as a General Surgeon at Swedish Covenant Hospital for many years where he was President of the Medical Staff and Chief Of Surgery. He was instrumental in the forming of the Paul Carlson Medical Program, serving as a charter member on its first board. He also served on the World Missions Board of the Covenant Church. He was a life-long member of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and for the past 23 years a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Villa Park. He served the Villa Park Church in numerous leadership capacities. He did short-term mission work in the Congo, including working with the late Dr. Paul Carlson a year before he was martyred. From 1969-1976 Fernly was a physician at the OAU Clinic in Kinshasa, Zaire. He worked with Dr. Bill Close under President Mobutu in redeveloping the local hospital and medical programs, which included having residents from the University of Illinois surgical program, do 3-month rotations as an elective. From 1976-1981 he served as campus physician at McKinley Hospital at the University of Illinois, Champaign and then retired. He was a member of the Christian Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons. He loved his family dearly and loved and served the Lord with joy and gladness. He enjoyed travel, visits with his family, work with the Covenant Church and the Heritage Society of Swedish Covenant Hospital. He was an extraordinary man and will be missed by all. A private family service and burial were held on Saturday August 23rd. A public memorial service will be held at a future date at the Holmstad, 700 West Fabyan Pkwy., Batavia Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Paul Carlson Partnership in care of the Evangelical Covenant Church and mailed to 8303 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. Online donations can be made at www.paulcarlson.org/donate-now.