Grant W. Johnson, age 80, of Harris, Minnesota passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at his daughter's home in Mondovi, Wisconsin where he had been residing since early July. Grant was born December 17, 1926 on the Johnson family farm west of Harris to "Ole" and Hilda Hesslund Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church of Harris, and received an 8th grade education at Willow Grove School.

On June 27, 1964 Grant married Emily Onasch Niemczyk of North Branch. He not only acquired a wife, but a ready-made family of 4 children as well, and a live-in father-in-law. Thankfully for his new family, love is indeed blind. Grant took it all in stride. He gave us his 100% love.

He is survived by three (step) daughters: Ann (Jon Hoelscher of Arden Hills, MN; Marie Marquardt of Yucca Valley, CA; and Margie (Rick) Thorp of Mondovi, WI. Grandchildren: Diane Lundeen, Rush City, MN; Mark (Kate) Hoelscher, St. Cloud, MN; Matt Hoelscher, Greely, CO; Thomas (Gina) Ahartz III, Las Vegas, NV; Lisa (Mikel) O'Brian, Yucca Valley, CA; Mike Niemczyk, Jr., Denver, CO; Dan (Tristen) Niemczyk, New Brighton, MN and Brian (fiance Kari Dolezal) Thorp, Eau Claire, WI. Eight Great-Grandchildren (Kaylyn, James, Stafford, Kaleb, Madelynne, Gabrielle, Steven and Austin); many nieces, nephews & cousins, the Stuga Coffee Guys, numerous dear and life-long friends, and his beloved Ranch companion, "Miss Kitty".

Grant is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Fillmore; his sister-in-law Lucille; his (step) son, Michael Allan Niemczyk; and his wife of 36 years, Emily.

Grant held a number of jobs in his youth and early adulthood -- he drove a milk truck, picked up and hauled cattle, and cut ice blocks in the wintertime. He acted as ‘bartender' at the Harris Hotel and because he was a big guy (6'2'' and 250+ pounds) worked as a bouncer at Lakeside. He was even a Chisago County Deputy for a short time, but found he wasn't cut out for that line of work after ‘sweating through too many shirts.' His gentle nature was at odds with the more sordid side of life.

He finally found his niche at P. O. Pederson Construction Company. After 20 plus years there driving a dump truck, he went to work for Hals and retired at the age of 65. Never one to sit idle, he worked as a road grader for Chisago County, and then on and off for Brian Mold and his Preferred Paving Co. filling in whenever someone was on vacation, or when Brian's workload required more men. He thoroughly enjoyed driving truck again, and being considered one of Brian's crew.

For many years, Grant kept a herd of pure-bred Polled Herefords at the Ranch (our affectionate name for the 46 acres Grant owned on Falcon Avenue), and would drive back and forth from his home in North Branch to check on his cows or to water and feed them. He always kept one or two steers to butcher for meat each year, and would fill his kids' freezers as his special Christmas give to them, thoroughly spoiling them, much to their delight.

Grant was a Minneapolis Moline tractor enthusiast, and proudly owned his family's very first MM, among others. He never missed the Almelund Threshing Show, the Anderson Rock Creek Threshing Show or the Turtle Lake Toy Show. He also enjoyed old cars, and lovingly restored a 1932 model A. Emily and Grant joined an antique car club, and had a ball meeting new friends and sharing classic car stories earlier in their marriage.

In 2003, three years after Emily passed away; Grant sold the North Branch house, and moved to the Ranch to live. There he was able to enjoy his small herd of beef-mix cattle 24 hours a day. This past March, his health began to fail, forcing him eventually to move to his daughter, Margie's home in Wisconsin for some ‘family-style' assisted living. It was there that he passed away. Grant will be deeply missed by all who knew him. We loved him very much.

Funeral services were held on September 27, 2007 at the First Lutheran Church of Harris, with Pastor Conrad Warner officiating. Burial was at St. John's Cemetery in Weber. Grandstand Funeral Home in North Branch served the family.

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