Timothy W. Johnson

Timothy W. Johnson Timothy William Johnson, age 69, of Eagle Lake, died Thursday, October 20, 2016 at his home.

A Celebration of Tim’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Mankato, MN, with Pastor Ronald Myers, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 -8 p.m., Monday at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr., North Mankato and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Timothy was born August 11, 1947 in Minneapolis to Aurilla M. Johnson. He attended Hiawatha Elementary School, Sanford Junior High, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1965. Tim attended Bemidji State College from 1965 – 1967. He was a proud veteran of the US Army, serving from 1967 – 1970, including 1 year in Viet Nam from 1968 – 1969. He graduated from Southwest Minnesota State College, Marshall, in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health, Physical Education, and Coaching.

Tim met and married his “bride” Barbara VanBrunt on December 27, 1970 in West Long Branch, N.J.

Tim taught physical education at Mankato East High School his entire teaching career from 1973 – 2006. While at East he coached boys swimming and diving for 40 years; girls swimming and diving for 34 years; 8th grade softball for 31 years, boys cross country for 5 years; and boys tennis for 2 years. He also coached mens and womens diving at Mankato State University for 2 years and mens and womens diving at Gustavus Adolphus College for 4 years. He was the girls diving coach at Mankato West High School from 2012 – 2014. Tim served in a variety of positions; he was President of the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Association and a member of the Minnesota State High School League Swimming Advisory Committee. He was a long time member of and involved in the Minnesota High School Coaches Association and served as the Region 2AA Delegate; serving as President in 2002 and a member of the executive committee in 2006. Tim also served as a State Meet Diving Judge since 1968.

Tim was a proud recipient of the George Hahn Award and the Steve Kerzey Award for the MSHSCA. Tim was also inducted into the Mankato East High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006; the Bemidji State College Athletic Hall of Fame (swimming team) in 2012; and the Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009. He was a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Eagle Lake.

Tim is survived by his “Bride” of 45 years, Barbara, Eagle Lake; daughter Kim Johnson (Matthew Griebel) of Lake Crystal; son Adam Johnson, Eagle Lake; son David Johnson, Mankato; grandchildren Brandi, Katlyn, Michelle, Codi, Ryder, Wyatt, Rebecca and Zoey; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Frank and Lori Van Brunt, Oceanport, N.J.; nephew Paul (Francine) Van Brunt and their children Mason and Haven; and nieces Caitlin McCarthy and Colleen McCarthy all of New Jersey.

Preceded in death by his mother, Aurilla Johnson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Frank and Lydia VanBrunt; aunts, Alphilda Waldroff and Alfreda Wagner of Minneapolis and cousins, Barbara Ortenblad and Edward Waldroff.