Henry ‘Hank’ Johnson

Henry “Hank” Johnson, 81, of Sturtevant, Wis., died Sunday, May 24, 2009.

He was born on April 30, 1928, in Union County, the son of Henry Vernon and Mae Hawkins Johnson.

He attended Wolf Lake High School in Wolf Lake.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 until 1948 in the Pacific Theater as a deep sea diver.

Following his discharge from the Navy he moved to Sturtevant to join his uncles working for the Milwaukee Road Railroad.

He and Betty Gastrow were married on May 21, 1949, at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Racine, Wis., and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

They lived their entire married life in Sturtevant. Mr. Johnson was very active in the community as a member of the Sturtevant Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, serving as chief in the mid-1960s.

He coached Pony League and Colt League Youth Baseball for more than 25 years.

He served as Sturtevant’s Civil Defense coordinator for more than 30 years and was a member of the village’s police and fire commission and zoning board of appeals for many years.

He was a charter member of the Sturtevant Lions Club, serving many terms as president, as well as secretary, treasurer and most other offices during 38 years with the club.

He was a member and past commander of VFW Post No. 9948.

In 1979 he was named the Sturtevant Man of the Year by the Sturtevant Chamber of Commerce and was honored to throw out the first pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium.

He was honored by the Village of Sturtevant with the naming of the South Park Baseball Fields for him and his fellow baseball coach, Duane Fink.

He received a certificate of appreciation from the Village of Sturtevant in 1993 for more than 23 years of service to the community in all capacities.

He worked at J.I. Case Company from 1957 until his retirement in 1990 as a welder and millwright and was a 33-year member of Local 180 UAW.

He was also employed by Western Printing and Racine Plating Company after leaving the railroad.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Bob Collins of East Troy; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Beth Johnson of Sturtevant; five grandchildren, Tim (Katey) and Steve (Amy) Collins, Kristi (Jamie) Opper, Scott (Kim) and Dan Johnson, and two step-grandchildren, Nick (Dina) and Noah Wood; five great-grandchildren, Calvin, Carter, Lilah and Brady Collins and Dylan Johnson.

He is also survived by one brother, Bill (Donna) Taylor of Kentucky; two aunts, Dorothy Smiddy and Jane Duncan of Illinois; one sister-in-law, Shirley Mau of Sturtevant; one brother-in-law, William (Ruth) Gastrow of Racine, Wis.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services were Thursday morning, May 28, at Draeger Langendorf Funeral Home in Wisconsin.

Burial was in the U.S. Veterans Cemetery in Union Grove.

Memorials can be made to the Faith Lutheran Church, Sturtevant, or the Wisconsin Lions Camp, 46 County Road A, Rosholt, Wis. 54473-9335.