COTTAGE GROVE - Amos S. Johnson, age 89, passed away on Friday, July 24, 2009. He was born on Aug. 26, 1919, in the Town of York, Green County, to Sever J. and Andrenna (Peterson) Johnson. Amos attended Meadow View Grade School and graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1937. He was drafted and served in the U. S. Army from Dec. 2, 1941 until Sept. 23, 1945. While in the service, Amos married Bethellen O. Otto on July 12, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pa.
While in the service, he was highly decorated, receiving a battlefield commission of 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on the battlefield. Amos was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also received the European Theatre Ribbon with the Bronze Arrowhead for making the D-Day landing and a Silver Star for fighting in the five major battles in Europe. Amos was awarded the Presidential Citation for the D-Day landing. He also received the American Defense Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal along with an Expert Rifleman Badge. Amos served the 8th Infantry, 4th Division.
He and his wife operated a dairy farm in Green County for nine years and was an area winner in the Wisconsin Grassland Farming Contest in 1953. In January 1955, Amos went to work for Green County as farm manager and bookkeeper at the Green County Mental Hospital and Farm. In 1960, he was promoted to administrator and was instrumental in building an addition of 104 beds to the mental hospital. Amos was very active in the State Mental Hospital Association and served as president of the association for two and a half years. He was recognized as a leader in mental health and nursing homes in the book, "Personalities of the West and Midwest" for outstanding and distinguished service. In 1969, Amos opened a new, 150 bed nursing home for Green County residents. While in Monroe, he was very active in the community, Grace Lutheran Church and was a charter member of the Monroe Rotary Club, serving as it's president and secretary. In 1972, Amos left Green County and was appointed administrator of the Portage County Home in Stevens Point, where he served for four years. In 1977, he joined Continental Care Centers of Omaha, Neb. and became administrator of Windsor Care Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he served for three years. In 1980, Amos was transferred to Tomah Care Center in Tomah, where he served for four years before retiring in 1984. While with Continental Care Centers, he received numerous awards as an exceptional administrator and was chosen Administrator of the Year in 1980. Amos was a licensed nursing home administrator in the states of Wisconsin and Iowa. Upon retirement, he became interested in local politics and was an alderman on the Tomah City Council for just short of six years and served as president of the council for five years. While in Tomah, Amos was very active at Gloria Dei Church and became a charter member of the Food Pantry and Tomah Hospice. In 1994, he moved to Cottage Grove to be near his family. While in Cottage Grove, Amos was active in his church, Messiah Lutheran, and as a Hospice volunteer.
In his life, he and his wife traveled much of the United States and made trips to Europe to attend the 40th anniversary of D- Day, the Scandinavian countries, the British Isles and Hawaii. Amos was a member of the Cottage Grove American Legion Post No. 248.
He is survived by four children, Lee (Laurel) Johnson of Sharpsburg, Ga., Linda (Paul) Ludden of Dallas, Texas, Les (Marianne) Johnson of Matthews, N. C., and Laura (Tom) Savor of Sun Prairie; 13 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two brothers, Ernest Johnson of Verona, and Knute (Esther) Johnson of Sarona; and dear friend, Doris Zache of Madison. Amos was preceded in death by his wife, Bethellen (11 years ago); and three brothers, Burlie, Lloyd and Robert Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at MESSIAH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5202 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2009, with the Rev. Jeff VandenHeuvel presiding. Inurnment will be at Old York Church Cemetery in Blanchardville. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Memorials may be made to Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Thank you to the staff of St. Mary's Hospital for the wonderful care given to Amos.
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Centers
5203 Monona Drive, Madison
(608) 221-5420, www.gundersonfh.com
While in the service, he was highly decorated, receiving a battlefield commission of 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on the battlefield. Amos was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He also received the European Theatre Ribbon with the Bronze Arrowhead for making the D-Day landing and a Silver Star for fighting in the five major battles in Europe. Amos was awarded the Presidential Citation for the D-Day landing. He also received the American Defense Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal along with an Expert Rifleman Badge. Amos served the 8th Infantry, 4th Division.
He and his wife operated a dairy farm in Green County for nine years and was an area winner in the Wisconsin Grassland Farming Contest in 1953. In January 1955, Amos went to work for Green County as farm manager and bookkeeper at the Green County Mental Hospital and Farm. In 1960, he was promoted to administrator and was instrumental in building an addition of 104 beds to the mental hospital. Amos was very active in the State Mental Hospital Association and served as president of the association for two and a half years. He was recognized as a leader in mental health and nursing homes in the book, "Personalities of the West and Midwest" for outstanding and distinguished service. In 1969, Amos opened a new, 150 bed nursing home for Green County residents. While in Monroe, he was very active in the community, Grace Lutheran Church and was a charter member of the Monroe Rotary Club, serving as it's president and secretary. In 1972, Amos left Green County and was appointed administrator of the Portage County Home in Stevens Point, where he served for four years. In 1977, he joined Continental Care Centers of Omaha, Neb. and became administrator of Windsor Care Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he served for three years. In 1980, Amos was transferred to Tomah Care Center in Tomah, where he served for four years before retiring in 1984. While with Continental Care Centers, he received numerous awards as an exceptional administrator and was chosen Administrator of the Year in 1980. Amos was a licensed nursing home administrator in the states of Wisconsin and Iowa. Upon retirement, he became interested in local politics and was an alderman on the Tomah City Council for just short of six years and served as president of the council for five years. While in Tomah, Amos was very active at Gloria Dei Church and became a charter member of the Food Pantry and Tomah Hospice. In 1994, he moved to Cottage Grove to be near his family. While in Cottage Grove, Amos was active in his church, Messiah Lutheran, and as a Hospice volunteer.
In his life, he and his wife traveled much of the United States and made trips to Europe to attend the 40th anniversary of D- Day, the Scandinavian countries, the British Isles and Hawaii. Amos was a member of the Cottage Grove American Legion Post No. 248.
He is survived by four children, Lee (Laurel) Johnson of Sharpsburg, Ga., Linda (Paul) Ludden of Dallas, Texas, Les (Marianne) Johnson of Matthews, N. C., and Laura (Tom) Savor of Sun Prairie; 13 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two brothers, Ernest Johnson of Verona, and Knute (Esther) Johnson of Sarona; and dear friend, Doris Zache of Madison. Amos was preceded in death by his wife, Bethellen (11 years ago); and three brothers, Burlie, Lloyd and Robert Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at MESSIAH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5202 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2009, with the Rev. Jeff VandenHeuvel presiding. Inurnment will be at Old York Church Cemetery in Blanchardville. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Memorials may be made to Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Thank you to the staff of St. Mary's Hospital for the wonderful care given to Amos.
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Centers
5203 Monona Drive, Madison
(608) 221-5420, www.gundersonfh.com