Obituary of Robert and Carol Johnson

Robert Allen Johnson, age 86, passed away on October 19, 2023. Just two weeks later, on November 2, Bob’s wife of fifty-nine years Carol Jean Johnson (née Miller) also passed. Carol was 84.

Robert was born in Mankato on January 9, 1937, to Norman and Audrey Johnson. The second oldest of five children, Bob was younger brother to Norman and older brother to Donald, Richard, and baby sister Carol. As a youth growing up in St. Paul Bob excelled in sports, playing football, basketball, and running track. He played football at Hamline University until a broken leg ended his football and college career in 1956. After his leg healed Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served until 1963.

Carol was born in Minneapolis on September 25, 1939, to Gunnar and Meta Miller. Carol and her older sister Marilyn and younger brother Glenn grew up in North Minneapolis, though the family would take summer trips to Young America to visit grandparents. As an adult Carol often recalled these trips fondly, and it was here that she developed a deep love of baseball while listening to games on the radio with her grandfather. Carol also often spoke of her shyness as a girl, though she excelled as a student and formed lifelong friendships while in school.

Bob and Carol were married on May 23, 1964, after meeting at a wedding rehearsal for Bob’s brother Don and Carol’s close friend Darlene. The newlyweds soon bought a house in Bloomington, MN, where they would live for close to fifty years. Bob worked for Sherwin Williams paint company and was a self-employed painter and wallpaper hanger before joining Carol at the U.S. Postal Service, where the couple would spend their professional lives until retirement.

Bob and Carol were loving and generous parents to their sons, Michael and Daniel, and deeply loved their granddaughters, Esme and Eda. In retirement they moved to Maple Grove to be closer to family, and in their later years the couple retained a mutual love of sports, which they shared with siblings and friends over many years. Bob never lost his gregariousness, love of gab, and fondness for puzzles, while Carol retained her dry midwestern wit, her many deep friendships, and her love of long walks. As her dementia advanced after 2018 Bob was Carol’s primary caregiver, selflessly caring for his wife despite suffering from a number of physical ailments himself.

Robert and Carol were preceded in death by their son, Michael, in 2017. They are survived by one son (Daniel), two daughters-in-law (Hande and Gina), and two granddaughters (Eda and Esme). Robert is also survived by a brother (Don) and sister (Carol). Carol is survived by a sister (Marilyn) and brother (Glenn).

A memorial service will be held for Robert and Carol on June 19 at 1pm at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, Brooklyn Park, 7835 Brooklyn Blvd., Minneapolis MN 55445, with lunch following the service.