Johnson, James Allen Dr. 1950 - 2024

JOHNSON, NEWHOUSE, MCNATT, QUEST, SCHMIDT, LAYNE, BALISTRERI

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/2/2024 at 11:46:53

Dr. James Allen Johnson, age 73, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at his favorite place in the world, his home along the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Rapids.

Jim was born on Nov. 20, 1950, in Decorah, Iowa to Ernest and Stella (Newhouse) Johnson. His siblings are Myrna (Dobbin) McNatt and Gerald (Linda) Johnson. He attended Decorah High School, and the University of Minnesota on a full golf scholarship. Jim earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine and completed residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was one of the founding orthopedic surgeons at Wisconsin River Orthopedics for 37 years and retired in 2014.

On Oct. 20, 2000, Jim married Janis Quest and they shared the last 23 years together in Wisconsin Rapids, enjoying time with their family to include his children John (Brooke) Johnson and Joseph (Kari Reinke) Johnson and her children Rachel Schmidt, Michele (James) Layne, and Matthew (Pauline) Quest. “Papa”, as his grandchildren called him, was loved dearly by Stella and Wyatt Johnson, Jocelyn and Abram Johnson, Natalie, Allison and Olivia Schmidt, Sean Balistreri and Madison and Ryan Quest. Jim was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, hunting, shooting and golf. He was a member of Bullseye Country Club, Upriver Gun Club, and Ducks Unlimited. Jim and his sons shared his passions with time spent together fishing along the Wisconsin River behind his home and great hunting trips. Jan and Jim enjoyed their family and created many memories and traditions at their up-north Boulder Junction home and their Door County condo. They shared a love of adventure and traveled together throughout the world, but their favorite destination was Norway, Jim’s family homeland. They also loved to cut a rug at the Whiting Dance Club.

The family would like to thank Synergy HomeCare, specifically Christine Ellison and Peggy Wierzba who lovingly cared for Jim at the end of his life.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at First English Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. The family welcomes you to continue the celebration of Jim’s life with them at Anchor Bay Bar & Grill after.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jim’s name to the South Wood County Humane Society.

Source: Decorah Newspapers Feb. 1, 2024