Gary ‘Woody’ Johnson

He was born on Nov. 12, 1941, and was a lifelong resident of Hermansville. After high school, he joined the Army National Guard and served from 1959 to 1967. On Aug. 11, 1962, he married Colleen McClure of Faithorn. She was the love of his life — he never remarried after her passing in 1991 — and in recent months he often spoke of how eager he was to be reunited with her.

Throughout his life, Gary pursued many passions. In his early years, he was a champion snowmobile racer and loved camping with his wife Colleen, their children Julie and Scott, and many relatives and friends. Some of the fondest memories were made on camping trips to Wisconsin, polka dancing, and long road trips to Florida with his sister Ann (Sis), her husband Don, and their family. He was also an avid Green Bay Packers fan who never missed a game and attended many at Lambeau Field — including the legendary Ice Bowl.

An outdoorsman at heart, Gary especially loved hunting. He made trips out west where he tagged mule deer, elk, and moose, but his greatest love was whitetail hunting in the U.P. He worked tirelessly throughout the year preparing for those two weeks each November, spending every hour he could in his deer blind at Tootie’s Ridge or at his beloved Woody’s Nest cabin. He was also a successful bear hunter and guide who cherished his bear dogs, especially Jed and Tyree.

Gary’s adventurous spirit extended to the open road. As a proud member of the Jokers motorcycle club, he served as Vice President and Road Captain, traveling across the United States and Canada on his Harley. The brotherhood, camaraderie, and friendships he found there were treasures he held close throughout his life.

He was also a proud member of the Local 324 Operating Engineers for more than 50 years. A master welder who could operate all types of heavy equipment, Gary worked for more than 20 years with Payne and Dolan, where he operated an asphalt plant, before retiring in 1997. His work ethic and commitment reflected the pride he took in a job well done.

Those who knew Gary will remember not only his accomplishments but also his character. He was strong-willed and never knew the word “quit.” A true MacGyver, he could fix or make anything and enjoyed the challenge of hard work. Loyal and dedicated, he took great pride in his family and loved nothing more than time spent together.

His daily chats with his close friend Tim (Panda) Wilinski were a big part of his daily routine. His Sunday trips to the woods with his daughter Julie were especially meaningful and full of wonderful memories.

He also had a fun and spunky side that brought joy to those around him, and he was a devoted cat lover, sharing his home and heart with Otto, Miss Kitty, and Festus.

Gary is survived by his daughter, Julie (Mark) Doda of Norway; son Scott (Collette) Johnson of Bryant, Ark.; granddaughters Kim (Luke) VandenAvond, Courtney Meiner, and Colleen Johnson; grandsons Jesse Johnson, Jake (Jalynn) Johnson, and Trey Doda; sister Ann (Sis) and brother-in-law, Don LeBeau; numerous great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. His McClure family was also very special to him, and the bonds they shared were deeply valued.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen; son Gary Jr.; parents Ed and Lillian; sister Barb and brother-in-law Tom; father- and mother-in-law, Jesse and Viola McClure; and beloved pets Bobbi, Jed, and Tyree.

The family would like to thank OSF Hospice for their support and assistance over the past two months.

A celebration of life and military honors conducted by the Floriano Stecker Kelly Post 340 and the United States Army Honor Guard will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Faithorn at a later date.

The Anderson Funeral Homes are assisting the Anderson family and online condolences can be sent at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.