Ervin W. Johnson, age 93 of Darlington, WI, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Lafayette Manor in Darlington. He was born November 28, 1916 in South Wayne, WI the son of William and Clara (Olson) Johnson. Ervin was also a proud descendant of Snow Shoe Thompson; the man who was known to have carried the mail across the Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range from 1856 to 1876 never expecting to be paid a penny from the U.S. Government for his efforts.
Ervin grew up in South Wayne Township on a large dairy farm where he took an active part in helping milk ninety-three cows from the age of about seven years old until he graduated from high school. Ervin graduated from South Wayne High School in 1934 and the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1941 where he majored in Economics before receiving his Law Degree. While going to school in Madison Ervin's father died unexpectedly. Seeing the need at home he returned to the family farm to assume full responsibility and management of the farm while settling his father's estate. Following the sale of the farm he returned to Madison to resume his education. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Berget on August 29, 1938 at East Wiota Lutheran Church in Wiota, WI. Ervin and Phyllis moved to Darlington where he practiced Law for 70 years.
He served as District Attorney for Lafayette County from 1943 until 1946. Ervin was a member of the County, State and American Bar Association, and at the county level he served as President. He served on Tax Panel of Wisconsin Bar Association and on the committee revising the landlord-tenant law in Wisconsin. He was Public Administrator for Lafayette County for 20 years. Ervin served as Chairman of the Board for the Citizens National Bank of Darlington and on the loan committee, examining board, and acted as the Bank's legal counsel. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Bank in South Wayne for many years, a member of its loan committee, examining committee, and acted as its legal counsel. Ervin served as Chairman and Executive Committee of the Republican Party for Lafayette County for several years, as Secretary in Senator M.J. Olson's Campaign Committee and in Representative Joseph Tregoning's Campaign Committee for several years. He was also on the election committee of several state and national officials, including State Senator, Foster Porter, Senator, Alexander Wiley, Governor, Warren Knowles, and Governor, Vernon Thompson, He also served as Parliamentarian at district Republican conventions.
Ervin was the sole member of the Lafayette County Bar Association to be elected to American College of Probate Lawyers. Ervin taught Probate Law at University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison during the fall semester of 1981. He holds the highest rating obtainable in the legal directory. Ervin always loved farming and enjoyed owning and operating six large dairy farms in Lafayette County, approximately 1,900 acres.
Ervin was instrumental in founding; the Lafayette County Memorial Hospital, Lafayette Manor, Darlington High School (Center Hill location), and Darlington Fire Station. He was president of Darlington School District #12 for about 10 years during the difficult period of the school district reorganization and its building of the new school. Ervin organized Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington, where he raised the initial capital, served as its attorney and Board member for about 30 years.
Ervin and Phyllis built and furnished the Johnson Public Library in 2000. They endowed a Weston Noble Chair of Music at Luther College. In 1979, Ervin and Phyllis established the Johnson Foundation and have since been providing scholarships to many graduating seniors throughout Lafayette County. They contributed to the Sieg Fund for completion of the Sieg Athletic Field. Ervin's generosity touched the lives of countless people across southern Wisconsin.
Ervin was a member and served on resolutions committees of many farm organizations including the Farm Bureau, Pure Milk Association, Pure Milk Products Association, American Dairy Association, Farmers Union and several farm cooperatives and interests in mining rights. He was a member and past Master of Darlington Free and Accepted Masons, of Madison Consistory and Zor Shriners and president of Kiwanis Club in Darlington. Ervin was a consultant for farmers and business men concerning the advisability of buying, selling, or renting farm land, as well as, appraising farms and farm personal property. Ervin was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington, where he served on its church council as president and Treasurer of the building committee. He was also a Sunday School teacher and former choir member. He was a member of Rules and Platform Committee at several district and state Republican conventions, Founders Club at Platteville State University, Friends of WHA at University of Wisconsin TV Station and a charter member of Green County Historical Cheese Society.
Ervin is survived by his wife: Phyllis at home; one daughter: Susan J. Johnson of Washington, D.C.; two grandchildren: Andrea Elizabeth (Linda Binder) Johnson of Huntersville, NC, Krista Jae (Will) Thurmond of Charlotte, NC; three great-grandchildren: Eliza and Anika Johnson and Liam Thurmond. He is preceded in death by his parents; one son: Jim Jay Johnson on September 6, 2007; four brothers: Alden, Victor, Archie, and Orville Johnson; two sisters: Genevieve LuRue and Grace Campbell.
Funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street in Darlington with Rev. Kathleen Rinear officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery in rural Gratiot, WI. A visitation will be held Monday, January 25, 2010 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the church where Masonic Rites will be held at 5:00 P.M. Erickson Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
For those who prefer, memorials may be given to the Johnson Foundation.
Ervin grew up in South Wayne Township on a large dairy farm where he took an active part in helping milk ninety-three cows from the age of about seven years old until he graduated from high school. Ervin graduated from South Wayne High School in 1934 and the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1941 where he majored in Economics before receiving his Law Degree. While going to school in Madison Ervin's father died unexpectedly. Seeing the need at home he returned to the family farm to assume full responsibility and management of the farm while settling his father's estate. Following the sale of the farm he returned to Madison to resume his education. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Berget on August 29, 1938 at East Wiota Lutheran Church in Wiota, WI. Ervin and Phyllis moved to Darlington where he practiced Law for 70 years.
He served as District Attorney for Lafayette County from 1943 until 1946. Ervin was a member of the County, State and American Bar Association, and at the county level he served as President. He served on Tax Panel of Wisconsin Bar Association and on the committee revising the landlord-tenant law in Wisconsin. He was Public Administrator for Lafayette County for 20 years. Ervin served as Chairman of the Board for the Citizens National Bank of Darlington and on the loan committee, examining board, and acted as the Bank's legal counsel. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Bank in South Wayne for many years, a member of its loan committee, examining committee, and acted as its legal counsel. Ervin served as Chairman and Executive Committee of the Republican Party for Lafayette County for several years, as Secretary in Senator M.J. Olson's Campaign Committee and in Representative Joseph Tregoning's Campaign Committee for several years. He was also on the election committee of several state and national officials, including State Senator, Foster Porter, Senator, Alexander Wiley, Governor, Warren Knowles, and Governor, Vernon Thompson, He also served as Parliamentarian at district Republican conventions.
Ervin was the sole member of the Lafayette County Bar Association to be elected to American College of Probate Lawyers. Ervin taught Probate Law at University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison during the fall semester of 1981. He holds the highest rating obtainable in the legal directory. Ervin always loved farming and enjoyed owning and operating six large dairy farms in Lafayette County, approximately 1,900 acres.
Ervin was instrumental in founding; the Lafayette County Memorial Hospital, Lafayette Manor, Darlington High School (Center Hill location), and Darlington Fire Station. He was president of Darlington School District #12 for about 10 years during the difficult period of the school district reorganization and its building of the new school. Ervin organized Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington, where he raised the initial capital, served as its attorney and Board member for about 30 years.
Ervin and Phyllis built and furnished the Johnson Public Library in 2000. They endowed a Weston Noble Chair of Music at Luther College. In 1979, Ervin and Phyllis established the Johnson Foundation and have since been providing scholarships to many graduating seniors throughout Lafayette County. They contributed to the Sieg Fund for completion of the Sieg Athletic Field. Ervin's generosity touched the lives of countless people across southern Wisconsin.
Ervin was a member and served on resolutions committees of many farm organizations including the Farm Bureau, Pure Milk Association, Pure Milk Products Association, American Dairy Association, Farmers Union and several farm cooperatives and interests in mining rights. He was a member and past Master of Darlington Free and Accepted Masons, of Madison Consistory and Zor Shriners and president of Kiwanis Club in Darlington. Ervin was a consultant for farmers and business men concerning the advisability of buying, selling, or renting farm land, as well as, appraising farms and farm personal property. Ervin was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington, where he served on its church council as president and Treasurer of the building committee. He was also a Sunday School teacher and former choir member. He was a member of Rules and Platform Committee at several district and state Republican conventions, Founders Club at Platteville State University, Friends of WHA at University of Wisconsin TV Station and a charter member of Green County Historical Cheese Society.
Ervin is survived by his wife: Phyllis at home; one daughter: Susan J. Johnson of Washington, D.C.; two grandchildren: Andrea Elizabeth (Linda Binder) Johnson of Huntersville, NC, Krista Jae (Will) Thurmond of Charlotte, NC; three great-grandchildren: Eliza and Anika Johnson and Liam Thurmond. He is preceded in death by his parents; one son: Jim Jay Johnson on September 6, 2007; four brothers: Alden, Victor, Archie, and Orville Johnson; two sisters: Genevieve LuRue and Grace Campbell.
Funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street in Darlington with Rev. Kathleen Rinear officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery in rural Gratiot, WI. A visitation will be held Monday, January 25, 2010 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the church where Masonic Rites will be held at 5:00 P.M. Erickson Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
For those who prefer, memorials may be given to the Johnson Foundation.