Wendle E. Johnson

Wendle E. Johnson, 84, of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin passed away suddleny on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at his home.  Wendle was born on March 12, 1930 on a farm four miles northwest of Amery, the fourth child of J. Harris and Myrtle  Johnson.  He graduated from Balsam Lake High School where he lettered in boxing and football.

At age 18 he joined the Army and went to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne.  After basic training, he went to Fort Benning, Georgia.  In 1949, he came home and married his high school sweetheart Erlene Pierson and went to work for the Polk County Highway Department.  In 1951, he was called back to the Army during the Korean War.  He spent a year in Camp Carson, Colorado training men to build roads in the mountains.

Wendle returned home to work for the Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator.  In 1954, he bought a milk truck and hauled cans of milk to the Stella Cheese Company.  In 1959, he returned to being a heavy equipment operator for private contractors until his retirement in 1991 and was a member of Operating Engineers Local #139.

Wendle and Erlene had three children, son Lynn and daughters Cindy and Sandra.  They were married for 64 years and were residents of Balsam Lake, and moved to Centuria where they lived for 34 years and back to Balsam Lake for 22 years.

Wendle joined the Methodist Church in 1953 and was an active member serving in various ways, including Lay Leader, Youth Group Leader, church building committee and presently a trustee.  He currently served on the Balsam Lake Cemetery Board.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 278 for 54 years where he held several offices, including Commander, Honor Guard Commander and presently the Chaplain.  He was a member of Polk-Burnett 40 et 8 where he was Chaplain for 20 years.  He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, a lifetime member of both the Wisconsin and National Trappers Associations and a member of the Polk County Sportsman Club for over 50 years.  In 1996 he was voted "Sportsman of the Year".  At one time, he was an active member of the Snowdrifters (Centuria's snowmobile club) and purchased the first snowmobile trail groomer and drag which the Club later purchased.  He was always interested in the youth and taught snowmobile safety classes for 25 years, gun safety classes and trapping skills.  He was interested in old machinery and with his friend George, would thresh grain with their old Case steam engines and they even raced them down main street of Centuria.

He was a writer in his own way by putting his thoughts, feelings and experiences on paper.  He left his life history for his family to read.  He believed in the Constitution of United States and the freedoms it gives us.

His true passion was the outdoors and all the nature had to offer.  He loved to hunt, fish, trap, pick mushrooms, plant trees and meditate. He had the joy of building his dream, hand-built, log cabin in the woods and was devastated when it burned down.

He truly loved his family, nature, God and his Country and will be sadly missed by his family, his hunting, fishing and trapping buddies, and many friends.

Wendle leaves to celebrate his memory: wife, Erlene Johnson, Balsam Lake, WI; children: son, Lynn D. Johnson, Nome, Alaska; daughter, Cindy L. Hallberg, Cumberland, Wisconsin; daughter, Sandra A. (Gregory) Minton, Lone Tree, Colorado; grandchildren: Terri, Kelly, Benjamin, Anna, Mclain, Mckenzie and Montana, great grandchildren, Austin and Jayda, sister, Bernadene Busse, Minneapolis, Minnesota, nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Harris and Myrtle Johnson, brothers, Ray and Bert Johnson and his sister, Arlene Young.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the Holy Trinity United Methodist Church rural Balsam Lake.  Pastor Freddie Kirk will officiate.

The Johnson family will greet visitors on Monday, August 18 from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria and then one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Wendle will be laid to rest at the Balsam Lake Cemetery following the service.  Pallbearers will be Tim Evans, Dick Hoffman, George Bergmann, Denny Davison, Tom Hallberg, Elliott Paulsen, Steve Williams and Mark Hoffman.

The family invites their guests to join them for lunch and fellowship back at the church following the cemetery service.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.