Warren "Swede" Lewis Johnson

WARREN L. “SWEDE” JOHNSON, age 79 of Janesville, died on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Whispering Creek in Janesville.

Born in Waseca on June 5, 1941, Warren was the son of Lewis “Swede” Johnson and Leona (Beavens) Johnson. He attended country school near Smith’s Mill as a boy before graduating from Janesville High School with the class of 1959. On October 20, 1961, he married Janice Dimmel at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. He worked as a manager at Land-O-Lakes in Janesville for twelve years before taking on his role in employment services for the State of Minnesota Department of Economic Security. Swede touched many lives and made many friends over the years as he spent helping people find employment. He loved fishing, socializing with friends at the Thirsty Beaver and the Purple Goose, spending time with his family, and cheering on his grandchildren. Swede was a huge fan of the Minnesota Vikings and was one of their original season ticket holders. He enjoyed cheering for the Vikings and maintained those tickets throughout all of their successes, failures, and moves over the years. He was a past member of the Janesville Jaycees, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and the Janesville Sportsman’s Club, as well as a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. Swede was also a volunteer fireman for the Janesville Fire Department for 20 years. He had the honor of being inducted into the JWP Athletic Hall of Fame with the 1959 Janesville basketball team.

Swede is survived by three sons, Jeff (Jana) Johnson of New Ulm, Rich (Cherrie) Johnson of Janesville, and Jay (Michelle) Johnson of Eden Prairie; one brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlene) Dimmel of Janesville; and six grandchildren, Heidi (Luke) Snell, Heather Anderson, Lindsey (Steve) Dault, Jordan Johnson, Lucas Johnson, and Kady Johnson; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; his wife; his parents-in-law, Victor and Dorothy Dimmel; one sister, Susan; and one brother, Bill.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM on Monday, June 7, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, with Rev. Brian Johnston officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:00AM until the time of the service at the church. Interment will follow at the Janesville Cemetery. Swede’s family requests that friends and family feel comfortable wearing casual attire on Monday, as that would have been Swede’s preference on a warm day.