Claude Thomas Johnson (1931-2012)

JOHNSON, TABAKA, NEWLAND, GRIMES, HOFFMAN, DORMANEN, BAZEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 11/19/2012 at 17:24:11

From the Story City Herald, Wednesday, October 24-31, 2012, Story City, Story County, Iowa.

Funeral services for Claude Johnson were held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the North Fork Community Church in Idaho with Pastor Bob Havens conducting. Viewing was held at the church from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Burial was at the Gibbonsville Cemetery.

Claude Thomas Johnson was born in Rosendale, Iowa on Nov. 13, 1931. He was the fourth child of Joe and Fern Johnson. He grew up and attended school in Story City, Iowa. There he played and lettered in football and baseball. He graduated high school in 1949 and went on to Omaha, Nebraska for training in radio broadcasting and electronics.

In 1951, Claude went to Longville, Minnesota with his parents where they had purchased into a partnership on a fishing resort. While in town one day as his father made a purchase, Claude looked into the storefront window at a little redhead behind the counter. He turned to his mother and told her, "I'm going to marry that girl..." and in 1952, on the 29th of October, Claude married Margaret Jean "Peggy" Tabaka. He took her to Story City, Iowa where he worked in his father's garage as an attendant and a mechanic.

Two years later, in August of 1954, their first child, Cheryl Ann was born. In the spring of 1956, Claude, Peg and Cheri moved back to Longville, Minnesota where they entered into partnership of Wi-Wi-Ta Resort with Claude's parents. That September a second daughter, Mary Kim was born.

"Wi-Wi-Ta" (Ojibase for "the friendly home"), was situated on a beautiful peninsula surrounded by three sides of waters of Broadwater Bay, on Woman Lake, in north central Minnesota.

In August, 1960 Claude came home bounding down the hill towards the lodge joyously proclaiming "I got my boy!" His first son James Thomas was born! Claude's second son Joe Anthony was born in July of 1963.

The turbulent 1960s and 1970s brought about change to the Johnson family. In 1972 Claude’s mother passed on. He and Peggy would divorce, and life as all knew it would change.

In April 1972 Claude married Jeanette Newland. He would adopt two of her children, Julie, age 10 and Scott, age 9. They stayed at the resort until purchasing land and moving to North Fork. When Claude moved, he told his children, “Lots of folks go west in search of gold. I found water,” and he smiled.

Claude and Jeanette worked their land and built their new home and life with new friends. Unknown by most in this new world, whenever he was sitting in a parking lot while Jeanette shopped, Claude would call one or all of his children to “report in,” as he’d say. He was only a phone call away and assured the kids he was happy and content in the mountains he now called home.

In 2009 Jeanette passed on. Claude was taken aback and ill from years of caring for his wife, and from heart and lung complications and failing kidneys.

With the love and care of his children, he faced the next three years gallantly and, one month shy of his 81st birthday, Claude peacefully bid this world adieu.

Claude is loved and survived by his children Cheryl (Pat) Grimes of Walker, Mary ‘Kim’ Hoffman of North Fork (Dan Dormanen of Walker), James (Sudena) Johnson of Walker, Joe (Kathy) Johnson of Remer, Julie (Buck) Bazen of Victor, Mont., and Scott (Theresa) Johnson of Longville; three grandsons, Zachary, Clayton and Keane; eight granddaughters, Sarah, Amelia, Breah, Tessandra, Dawn, Amber, Carissa and Shawnee; 10 great-grandchildren: Dakota, Mackenzie, Kaiden, Karsen, Cole, James, Kai, Vance, Nevaeh and baby girl Johnson, due in December; one sister, LaVonne; three nieces, Cindi, Claudia and JoLene; three nephews, John Marshall, Timothy and David; his first wife, Margaret; and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest sister Phyllis, brother Keith and second wife Jeanette.

Claude enjoyed a good cup of coffee and watching the birds at his feeders. He loved the sun on his face, the wind in his hair (and what a head of hair), watching old Westerns and a really good deal. He loved his family, his dogs, his horses, and the cornfields of Iowa, the lakes of Minnesota (but not the mosquitoes) and the mountains of Idaho — and, as he would say, “not necessarily in that order!”

Dad always told us, “If you’re gonna do it, do it right.” So here’s to you, Dad. “Tip ‘er back on ‘er wheels; you got a million miles to go.” Go on ahead now; we’ll catch up with you farther down the trail.

Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 86, North Fork, ID, 83466.