Robert "Bob" Johnson

Robert Eugene “Bob” Johnson, age 83, of Gays Mills, formerly Soldiers Grove, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Soldiers Grove Health Services. He was born to the late Melvin and Doris (Cooley) Johnson on August 10, 1941, in rural Soldiers Grove.

Bob grew up in Montgomeryville and has told many stories of his childhood and growing up living off the land. He had a great love for the outdoors that was engrained in his soul, having vast knowledge of nature. There was rattlesnake hunting, beekeeping and honey harvesting, maple syrup collection and boiling the sap down in the woods in the early spring. There were morel mushrooms and ginseng to hunt and sell, berries and nuts to be picked, trapping for meat and the fur, bark to peel dry and sell, lawns and cemeteries to mow, and graves to be dug. The family all took part in gathering and hunting.

Hunting was a great passion for Bob, so much that he mentored and taught many generations of youth and adults Hunter Safety and several other courses for the Wisconsin DNR for over 25 years and was a Boy Scout Leader for Soldiers Grove Troop 315 starting in 1989. He worked various jobs but was well known for his expertise in growing apples for the majority of his life. Starting with Kickapoo Orchard, owning and operating Turkey Ridge Organic Orchard, and finally Hillcrest Orchard, all of Gays Mills. He gained knowledge and experience and attended yearly conferences all over the country. Bob was well known throughout the apple industry and was also a consultant to those who sought his knowledge.

Bob graduated high school from Soldiers Grove, where he met his high school sweetheart, Karen Kay Clancy. Bob and Kay were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa on September 9, 1961. Together they raised four children: Robert, Tanya, Deborah, and Samuel. Bob taught his children the importance of making do but working hard, also to be content and tolerant, and above all to be kind, especially to those less fortunate. Bob will be missed by all who knew him, but his warmth and legacy will remain in all of our hearts.

He is survived by his children: Robert (Kelly) Johnson of Racine, Tanya (Peter) Peterson of Gays Mills, Deborah (Stephen Milano) of Bakersfield, CA, and Samuel (Barb) Johnson of Soldiers Grove; his special grandchildren: Samantha, Kayla, Emily, Rachael, Sawyer, Andrea, Chelsea, Connor, Anthony, Jessica, Haley, Brianna, Alex, Suzanne, and Mary. Bob was proud of his children and grandchildren and in later years, enjoyed keeping track of them and his 18 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, John and Melvin Johnson of Gays Mills, sister, Donna Gottschalk of Madison, and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Special people to Bob were his brothers-in-law, Mike and Conrad Clancy and close friends, Terri Van Haren Roddy and Brenda Morga, all who kept close tabs on him after the passing of his wife Kay, especially his younger brother, Melvin, who selflessly helped Bob remain in his own home in his last few years.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Doris; wife, Karen; special mother-in-law, Violet (Harold Clancy); brother-in-law, Duane (Myra) Clancy; three sisters, Bessie Johnson, Dorothy (Simon) Jones, and infant Shirley Johnson; three brothers, Harold Johnson and infants Milton and Michael. Recently Bob was saddened by the passing of his best friend, John Derrickson.

The family is comforted to know Bob is with his beloved wife, family, and friends.

Bob’s family would like to thank the staff of Soldiers Grove Health Services for their excellent care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family, a tree may be planted in Bob’s memory, or charitable donations to the Community of Christ Church, County Road X, Soldiers Grove.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Community of Christ Church on County Road X, rural Soldiers Grove. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Bob will be laid to rest at Montgomeryville Cemetery next to his wife with a luncheon to follow.

Vosseteig Funeral Home & Crematory in Gays Mills is serving Bob's family.

325 Sunset Ridge Avenue

Gays Mills, WI 54631

(608) 735-2100