Obituary of Lynwood Johnson

Funeral services for Lynwood "Lyn" Johnson, 67, of Milford, Iowa were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Lynwood Johnson was born Aug. 1, 1943 in Luverne, Minn., the son of Arnold and Inez (Lorange) Johnson. He graduated from Hills Minnesota High School in 1961 and from Sioux City Barber College in 1962. On July 24, 1965, Lyn was united in marriage to Mary Fries at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville. The couple lived in Spirit Lake until they moved to Milford in 1966, which Lyn proudly called his home. Lyn worked as a barber and then entered the grocery business. He worked at Buy Rite in Milford, Fresh Market Foods in Arnolds Park and Super Value and Fareway in Spencer. Lyn was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Milford and served on the board of Deacons. He was a member of the Milford Community Fire Department for over 40 years, a charter member of the Milford Kiwanis Club, Okoboji Booster Club, Okoboji Summer Theater Board and the Milford Jaycees. Lyn also served on the Milford City Council for over 20 years, serving as mayor pro-tem several of these years. He also was involved in the Thrivent Chapter of Dickinson County. Lyn's granddaughter, Kaia, says, "He had a heart bigger than his body could hold!" He was a proud grandpa and loving family man. Lyn will be remembered as a loyal friend, faithful fan of area sports and music events, an advocate for his First Lutheran Church family and a proud promoter of the Iowa Great Lakes. Lyn passed away Oct. 8, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., at 67 years of age after a courageous five-year battle with cancer. Left to cherish is memory are his wife, Mary; son, Todd and his wife, Kris; grandchildren, Erik and Kaia, "the lights of his life;" one brother, Lowell Johnson of Omaha, Neb.; one uncle, Lloyd Lorange and his wife, Lois, of Ortonville, Minn.; several nieces, nephews, cousins and his "Minnie and Lynnie Kids." He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Inez Johnson and several aunts and uncles.