Leland Herbert Johnson, 73, Sturgeon Bay, formerly of Burlington, died Feb. 5, 2015, at Golden Living Center-Dorchester.
He was born July 9, 1941, in Racine, to the late Herbert and Alice (Fohr) Johnson. Following his graduation from high school, Lee enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, serving for four years. While stationed in Germany, as fate would have it, Lee was reunited with his high school friend, Karen Goepfert, whose family was living in Brussels, Belgium, at the time. Their relationship grew and they were married in Racine on July 15, 1961, before returning to Germany where he finished his tour of service.
After serving, they returned to Wisconsin where Lee began his professional working life as a law enforcement officer with the Burlington Police Dept. Following eight years on the force, he joined J.W. Peters in Burlington, retiring as transportation manager after 27 years of loyal service.
He enjoyed boating and fishing with his family. An avid Packer fan, he also enjoyed watching auto racing of all kinds. A perfect day for Lee was spending time with his family boating on Lake Geneva. The laughs and fun were plenty, even when a brand new anchor got inadvertently tossed overboard. A gifted storyteller, Lee shared his wisdom and humor with stories about life and human nature. He always looked for the good in others, a trait both of his sons share today.
Survivors include his wife, Sturgeon Bay; sons, Andrew (Sharon) Johnson, Ross (Ellen) Johnson, both Burlington; grandchildren, Eric, Emily, Holly, Melissa and Benjamin; his brother, Allan F. Johnson, Racine; his brother-in-law, Paul K. Goepfert, Marco Island, Fla.
Funeral services with military honors will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay with the Revs. Tim Malek and Jerry Groth officiating. Military honors by the U.S. Army and AMVETS Post 51 will follow at the church. Private interment at Hainesville Cemetery will take place at a later date.
Friends may call at the church, Tuesday morning, from 10 a.m. to the time of services at 11:30 a.m. Huehns Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Sturgeon Bay, is serving the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bay View Lutheran Church, 340 W. Maple St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org, or a charity of choice.
Well-wishers can visit www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
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