Ronald R. Johnson, Monroe, WI died on May 17, 2022. He was born in Dixon, IL on September 1, 1939 to Raymond Lee Johnson and Fentie (Reed) Johnson. Ron attended Dixon High School graduating with the class of 1958. His cause of death was COPD.
He married the love of his life, Beverly Flaherty, on November 16, 1974.
While in high school, he enjoyed vocal music including singing in a quartet that performed widely in the area. In Dixon, he attended the Baptist Church, sang in its choir and served as its choir director for a period of time. In Monroe, he was a long time member of the Green County Harmony Chorus, serving as its President, and sang with the Monroe United Methodist Church choir.
Vocal music was his passion, but he could tap out a pretty good tune on the piano. His son has the piano on which he learned to play. It will remain in the family as an heirloom and perhaps a great-grandchild will learn to play it.
He was interested in newspapers and printing as a child. He had a paper route at a young age and worked for The Dixon Evening Telegraph while in high school. During his career he worked for newspapers in Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For a short period of time in the mid-seventies, he resided in Argyle, WI while being the owner and publisher of several weekly newspapers including those in Argyle, Albany, and Monticello, WI. He worked for Swiss Colony for 10 years finishing his printing career at Wisconsin Power & Light Co. (Alliant Energy).
As a child, Ron and his South Carolina cousins spent many enjoyable hours fishing the Rock River in Dixon with their families enjoying the fruits of their efforts.
He joined the National Guard while in high school and was activated during the Berlin Crisis. He became a Monroe resident in 1964 while working for the Monroe Evening Times, later Swiss Colony, and remained a permanent resident of Monroe until his death, except for a short time in Argyle during the 1970’s.
Ron was an avid curler and member of the Alpine Curling Club in Monroe until COPD prevented him from curling. He followed curling on TV as well as being a lifelong Cubs fan. He was a Packer fan as a youth in Dixon. UW Badger football, basketball, volleyball and the Milwaukee Bucks were among his favorites. Having been the 12 and under tennis champion in Dixon, he followed tennis and golf.
He particularly enjoyed his son’s musical skills and running skills in high school. His daughter’s running and basketball career in high school brought many hours of enjoyment. When a granddaughter became skilled in softball and basketball, then added high school volleyball, many games were enjoyed until he could no longer attend. Along came Covid and streaming of games became commonplace and could once again be enjoyed.
He was a former member of the Monroe Country Club and currently a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church.
Ron had a marvelous sense of humor and was always up for a good joke. His caretaker would often ask, “now is this story real or one of your jokes?” His children and grandchildren will remember the many stories and will tell them to their children. Always personable, he never met a stranger.
He is survived by his wife and six children, Ray Sr. (Ginny), Wiota, Steve, Monroe, Jeff (Lyn), Bangor, WI, Paul, Batavia, IL, Eric, Monroe, and Val (Jayson Edmunds), Monticello. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Ray Jr. (Jolene), Ryan (Beric), Jeremiah, Tanner (Brittany), Sawyer (Aaron) Kleeman, Nicholas, Catherine, Payton; three great-grandchildren, Danny, Riley, Aubrie, and another expected in October; sister, Faun (Jack) Hill, FL; and a brother-in-law, William Flaherty (Scott Swatalski), New Glarus. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Ruth and Orville “Bill” Flaherty; a sister, Delores (Ed) Moore; and a brother, Doug Welsh.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 1:00 PM, at the Monroe United Methodist Church, 2227 4th Street, Monroe. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon immediately following the service will be held at The Turner Hall Rathskeller, 1217 17th Avenue, Monroe. A memorial fund will be established benefitting Dixon, IL Waterfront, Monroe Clinic Hospice, and Monroe United Methodist Church. The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
To View the livestream of Ron’s service go to the Monroe United Methodist Church YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3oP-qDFF0GS1lcmfBugOA
