Larry “Oz” L. Johnson

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 5:56 pm

Larry “Oz” L. Johnson, 68, of Decorah, died Friday, March 3, 2017, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services are Thursday, March 9, at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden and Pastor Steve Oden officiating. Burial with military honors is at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Larry “Oz” Lynn Johnson was born Jan. 7, 1949, in Waukon, the son of Roger Charles and Norma June (Berg) Johnson. In 1968, he graduated from Waukon High School, where he was an All-Conference baseball player. Larry married Sharon Marti Dec. 7, 1968, at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. In Feb. 1969, Larry joined the U.S. Navy and relocated with Sharon to San Diego and Long Beach, Calif., where they welcomed their first son Jason. He served on the destroyer escort USS Hepburn as a boatswain’s mate and helmsman. After Larry was discharged in 1971, they moved back to Waukon and Larry began farming with his family in the Ludlow area. They raised and milked dairy cows and Larry belonged to the Holstein Association. In 1983, he started working for Foremost Farms and their creamery in Decorah, IA, for 17 years. In 2006, Larry worked for Luther College in Decorah as a custodian until retiring close to nine years later. He enjoyed working and liked meeting new people. Larry was a big sports fan and followed the Iowa Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s games and played softball on his family’s team. Larry liked to fish and loved cutting firewood with (and for) his kids. Larry also enjoyed cooking for holidays and special occasions; everyone looked forward to his rømmegrøt (milk mush), popcorn balls, and fudge. He worked hard at being a man, and being a husband, father, grandfather, and uncle were the most important things to him. He will be remembered for his gentle kindness, always willing to give someone a hand.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sharon of Decorah; his five children: Jason (Heather) Johnson of Dorchester, Chad Johnson of Waukon, Kim Schmauss and Jeremiah Johnson, both of Decorah; and Ashley (Justin) Ahlstrom of Waukon; 11 grandchildren; two brothers, Wayne and Virgil (Kay) Johnson, both of Waukon; his sister, Lori (Martin) Heman of Fredericksburg; and sister-in-law Mary Johnson of Waukon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Gary Johnson; son-in-law Todd Schmauss; and father- and mother-in-law Victor and Sylvia Marti.

Casket bearers are Haley, Jadon, Judah, Josiah, Hazel, Jonah, and Gabriel Johnson, Owen Frieden and Stella, Greta, and Augustus Ransom.

Online condolences may be left at martinfunerals.com.