Lawrence "Lovey" or "Mel" Melvin Johnson

Jody Hane2021-06-04T15:09:38-05:00

Name: Lawrence "Lovey" or "Mel" Melvin Johnson
Location of Birth: Victoria, Michigan
Date of Birth: April 29, 1915
Date of Death: November 8, 2008 (93 years old)
Parents: John and Tyne Johnson
High School and Class:
College:
Highest Rank: CPL (Corporal)
Branch: Army
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Military Highlights:
Lawrence was a United States Army Veteran of World War II, having served in Europe.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
As a young child, Lawrence and his family moved to Nashwauk, Minnesota, where he grew up and attended schools.

His mother died when he was 11 years old.

Lawrence worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Untied States Forest Service in California during the Great Depression, and later returned to Nashwauk where he worked in the iron mines.

Following his discharge, he returned to Nashwauk and again, worked in the mines.

Lawrence was united in marriage to Josephine Hughes on July 2, 1946, in Marble, Minnesota.

In 1954, they moved to California and built, owned and operated a gas station and an off-sale liquor store. They returned to Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1965 and he returned working in the iron mines until his retirement.

Lawrence was a jack of all trades who enjoyed his winters in Florida. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and horseback riding and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Grand Rapids and a volunteer at the Grand Rapids Food Shelf.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Josephine; two sisters, Vivian "Tudy" Johnson Sullivan and Fern Johnson Carlson; and daughter-in-law, Lynda Johnson.

Lawrence is survived by five sons, Don (Shihoko), Dave (Bev), Ken (May), Mike (Archietta), and Pat (Darla); one daughter, Sue (Miron) Joel; one brother, John Garvin "Honey" Johnson, thirteen grandchildren; and special friend, Amy Johnson.

Lawrence died after a brief illness at Evergreen Terrace in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery at Coleraine, Minnesota.

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