Obituary of Glenn Richard Johnson

Glenn Richard Johnson, 89, of Duluth died peacefully on September 13, 2020. He was born on August 26, 1931, to Clarence and Sally Johnson. He attended Chester Park Elementary, East Junior High and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1949. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 with the 1505th air base group at Johnston Island in the Pacific. He attended UMD before joining the Air Force, returning to receive an accounting degree from Duluth Business University in 1957. Glenn worked for Bridgeman Creamery from 1957-1980 where he met and eventually married Darlene Tokarczyk on June 8, 1963. He was a faithful man and was a long time member of Chester Park United Methodist Church and active with the men’s club. He was an avid bowler and was on the church bowling team and a longtime member of the Duluth Area Bowling Association. He served 16 years on the board as an association director and vice president. In 1987 he was inducted into the Duluth Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a post commander for the American Legion Post 342. He retired from Wells Fargo in 1994. One of his proudest experiences was being selected as a veteran hero for the April 2018 Northland Honor Flight to Washington D.C. accompanied by his grandson, PFC Kyle Gates. Glenn is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Darlene, three daughters, Glenda (Tom) Houle of Stillwater, MN, Jill (Bill) Gates of Duluth, MN and Wendy (Todd) MacLennan of Woodbury, MN, grandchildren, Stephanie, Rachel and Erik Houle, Kristen, Megan and Kyle Gates, Mattie, Jack and Erin MacLennan. He is also survived by many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Barb and Warren Tyacke, nephew Gary Tyacke, and niece Kathy White.

Our family would like to give special thanks to the compassionate doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s Hospital and the caring staff at Benedictine Health Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Glenn’s name are suggested to the Honor Flight Northland (www.honorflightnorthland.org) or the West Duluth American Legion Post 71.

Due to Covid, a private family service will be held at 11:00 on September 19, 2020 at Hope United Methodist Church. The service will be live streamed at www.hopemethodistchurch.com

Arrangements by the Cremation Society of Minnesota.