Walter C Johnson

Walter Charles Johnson, age 92 of Mankato died peacefully Saturday, July 1, 2017 surrounded by his family at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato.

Celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the church. Burial with Military Honors will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Peter. Memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice. Mankato Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Walter was born January 11, 1925 to Walter A. and Gladys (Johnson) Johnson in Mankato. The family lived in St. Peter, where Walter attended school through 10th grade. He and his family moved to Duluth. Walter graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1943 and entered the military service in 1943. He received his commission in France and was discharged in 1946. He attended Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated in 1949.

On June 17, 1951, he married his college sweetheart, Maurine Ibberson at the Congregational Church in Sleepy Eye. They purchased The Lorraine Shop, a ladies wear and bridal shop in Mankato, they owned and operated for 54 years. Walter was a former member of the Mankato Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA and was currently active with the Rotary Club, Mankato Golf Club, and Grace Lutheran Church. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, golfing and boating.

Survivors include his wife, Maurine of Mankato; children, Kim and husband, Rick May of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Brad and Cheryl Johnson of North Mankato; six grandchildren, Hannah and Charlie May, Casey Johnson, Joyce Johnson, Kristen and Ashley Gustavson; and sister, Nancy Fox of Lake Mary, Florida; sisters-in-law, Colleen Ibberson of Sleepy Eye and Marlene Satre of Winthrop; brother-in-law, Robert Ibberson of Sleepy Eye. He is also survived by many other special family members and numerous friends.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, John Fox, William Ibberson Jr. and Robert Satre; sister-in-law, Bertie Lou Ibberson.