Senior Connections Senior Connections Feb 2019 | Page 6

Army veteran is proud of his service
DEB COX-JOHNSON
Correspondent
For someone who wasn’t particularly fond of the
daily routine of Army life, Ed Johnson is proud of
his service and enjoys the camaraderie that veterans
often feel with other veterans.
He has been a member of the Howard Lake
American Legion for 23 years. Prior to that, he was
a member of the Wayzata American Legion for 11
years.
After retiring from full-time work in 2015, he
decided to serve as the Legion Commander in Howard
Lake. The former Post Commander was retiring,
and Johnson agreed to stand for election. Elections
take place every two years, and he was re-elected
in 2017 for another term. Due to the high level of
volunteer hours required, few are able to make this
commitment, but he enjoys the work.
He also still works part-time at Dura Supreme,
where he went to work in 2007. He has had a lifelong
interest in woodworking, carpentry, and building,
and now works in the “Specials” area. Here he works
on custom pieces that need a higher level of skill and
attention.
Early life
Johnson was born in Minneapolis and attended
Minneapolis South High School. There, he was a
three-season athlete and served as the co-captain of
both the cross country and swimming teams. He was
also president of the band.
Following graduation in 1968, he attended
Dunwoody Technical College and became certifi ed
as an auto mechanic.
In 1970, he was drafted into the US Army. His
schooling led the Army to put him to work fi xing
Ed Johnson, age 4, working in his father’s woodworking
shop.
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Senior
trucks and other vehicles in Carson, CO. While he
never worked as a mechanic later in life, he credits
this background with keeping him from, perhaps,
being sent to Vietnam.
In his later years, he has often wondered if he
would have survived that front line. He grieved the
loss of so many young lives, and was grateful to have
been spared the direct confl ict.
He was not tempted to re-enlist, and returned to
Minnesota in 1972.
One thing that was a major interest in his life from
the age of 4 was woodworking. His father had a shop
in the basement, and he loved spending time there,
helping and learning. Upon leaving the Army, he was
fortunate to have these skills put to extended use.
Fortunate in his career opportunities
and lucky in love
Johnson’s fi rst job combined two loves:
woodworking and boats. He went to work with
the Minnetonka Boat Works, which sold, serviced,
refurbished, and repaired both new Chris-Craft boats
and also classic and vintage wooden boats, including
Chris-Craft and Hacker-Craft.
He was living and renting an apartment in Wayzata
when he met his wife-to-be, Alberta (Birdie). He
had restored a sailboat and was looking for a sailing
partner when he knocked on the door of the woman
he was dating at the time. She wasn’t home, and
when her roommate, Birdie, answered the door, he
invited her instead.
Birdie grew up in Arizona, and at the age of 18, she
wanted to know more of the world and had moved to
Minnesota.
When asked if his military service was a factor in
her positive opinion of him, she stated, “Well, I was
not from a military family, and I remember that I was
much more impressed by the fact that he knew how
to sail!” They married in 1976.
In the meantime, Johnson had been promoted to
service manager. He may have preferred working
in the shop from an enjoyment perspective, but he
had the skills and temperament that were needed as
a service manager.
Over the years, Johnson and Birdie developed
an interest in living in the country. They looked at
homes in a number of communities, and in 1986,
they moved to Howard Lake.
When the Boatworks was sold in 1987 and the
management structure was radically changed,
Johnson decided it was time to work for himself.
He started doing welding and engine repair.
He gradually moved back into woodworking and
carpentry when he started getting requests to do
home remodeling projects. Later, he moved into
new home construction, particularly in the areas of
framing, carpentry, and roofi ng.
He had his own business for about 20 years,
then decided it was “time for a change.” He recalls
thinking that “maybe it was time to quit climbing on
Connections February 2019
Ed Johnson, age 22, at home on leave from Fort Carson,
CO.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
roofs.”
He and Birdie have enjoyed their country life.
When they were not able to have children of their
own, they decided to foster, and ended up adopting
and raising three of their foster children. As a side
business that the whole family could participate in,
they raised sheep – mostly for breeding and 4-H.
There are still seven sheep, and hese days, they serve
mainly as “lawn mowers.”
Staying connected through the
American Legion
Johnson was proud of his Army service, and is
equally proud of how the American Legion serves
both veterans and the broader community.
He is, perhaps, proudest of the work the Legion
does providing honors to fallen veterans. These
ceremonies are provided free-of-charge by volunteers
to commemorate the passing of fallen veterans.
The Legion also raises money through charitable
gambling, bingo, meat raffl es, and other special
events. It is the job of the members to determine the
best use of those funds. Those funds go to support a
variety of local causes, including youth sports.
In addition, the Howard Lake Legion organizes
and participates in events for Memorial Day in May,
and Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
They also serve as the color guard, which escorts
the fl ag in the Good Neighbor Days parade. They
have also provided educational presentations for
schools.
Johnson indicated that typical Post membership
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