Orville "Doc" P. Johnson

Orville “Doc” Pierre Johnson was born in Flandreau, South Dakota on February 15, 1925 to Edward and Olive Esther (Biever) Johnson. He was raised in Lake Benton, Minnesota, and graduated high school there in 1942. Doc proudly served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Following his time in the military, he attended college at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, and after graduation began his high school teaching career in Seneca, Wisconsin, making many life-long friends. Orville earned his Master’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, following which he returned to Lake Benton for a teaching position. While there, he met and then married Eva Mae Dupuis on July 6, 1968. A year later they moved to Tyler, Minnesota, where he taught until his retirement in 1987.

Doc and Eva had two children, Gwynne and Orin. He was very proud of his vegetable garden, and maintained it well into his eighties. He was also proud to have flown on a Southwest Minnesota Freedom Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

In his later years, following Eva’s death, he moved to La Crescent, Minnesota to be closer to Gwynne’s family. While living there, he was able to become close with his granddaughter, Madelyn Mishler, and cheer her on in her many activities. Orville passed away on September 17, 2018 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center at the age of 93 years, seven months, and two days.

He is survived by his daughter, Gwynne Mishler, her husband, Mike Mishler and their daughter, Madelyn Mishler; his son, Orin Johnson and his wife, Erin Hammond; his sister, Mildred Jatko; and nieces and nephews, Mary Jane, Pat, Tom, and Jim. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Eva.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Midwest Honor Flight via their website, https://www.midwesthonorflight.org.

May the choirs of angels lead him into paradise.