Victor Neri Johnson, 84, of Arcadia, died on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Health
System in La Crosse after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Victor was born on the family farm in rural Melrose on May 10, 1939, to Leonard and Nina
(Danielson) Johnson. After high school, Victor went to work around the Milwaukee Area, first
with American Motors and then construction of underground pipes and sewers. He moved
back to Trempealeau County and became a “jack of all trades”, though specializing in carpentry
and construction with Beaver Builders. He was united in marriage to Barbara Dick, and together
they had twin daughters: Joan and Jane. They later divorced. Victor later met Jean (Ruben)
Reuter and blended their families. Victor and Jean were united in marriage on November 12,
1999, on a whim on the Miss Marquette in Iowa. Together the couple enjoyed entertaining and
visiting their family, friends and neighbors. In his younger years, Victor liked to hunt and fish,
but later found a love for meat processing. Victor’s secret recipes for sausage and bologna
were unmatched and in high demand by many loyal customers. He was an amazing entertainer,
grill master, cook and preparer of lutefisk. He loved to meet new people and could visit with
anyone and everyone for hours, even if he was always “full of bologna”. He enjoyed seeing
friends at local establishments and reminiscing about old times. Victor always had a joke to
share, a smile on his face, and a cookie in his hand. His contagious laugh, secret recipes and
lifelong memories will be savored by all who knew him.
Victor is survived by his loving wife, Jean; daughters: Joan (Paul) Huseboe and Jane (Dean)
Kindschy; stepchildren: John (Tania) Reuter, Pete (Sue) Reuter, Jeff (Joyce) Reuter, Beth (Roger)
Klein, and Scott (Sherry) Reuter; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sisters: Fern Durbin
and Elizabeth Zurbuchen; and many nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 6 infant children; brothers: Curtis (Hazel) Johnson and
Bobby Johnson; sisters: Phyllis Ruff, Joyce Suchla, Linda Warner, and Berniece Bishop; and other
relatives.
Family and friends are welcome for visitation from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at the
Wozney-Killian Funeral Home in Arcadia. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday,
June 26, 2023, at North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church (White Church), rural Ettrick, with Pastor
Kathy Ingbritsen officiating, where there will also be an hour of visitation prior to the service at
church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A gathering for fellowship will follow the burial
at the Arcadia Country Club, Arcadia. To express condolences to his family online, please visit
http://www.wozneykillianfh.com.
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