Donn Allan Johnson

Donn Allan Johnson (May 16, 1954 – February 22, 2017) was a lifelong presence by the Chisago County lakes he loved. Raised on the family farm at Sunrise Lake in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Donn returned to the region after earning an architectural degree, choosing to steward the family land and carry forward a life rooted in community and the outdoors.

Donn and his wife Deborah married in 1980 and together raised two children, Shannon and Travis. Family and home were central to him — whether working the farm, helping around the property, or spending time on the water. Donn had a steady affection for fishing and hunting, and he enjoyed snowmobiling around the lakes and woods he knew so well. Those who knew him remember a man comfortable with the rhythms of rural life and committed to the ordinary kindnesses of neighborliness.

A devoted husband and father, Donn took pride in passing on a love of the outdoors and a sense of practical care for the land to his children. He is survived by his wife Deborah; daughter Shannon; son Travis; and grandchild Tanner, who carry forward his memory in family gatherings, at the lake, and in the quiet moments that honor a life lived close to the land.

Family and friends gathered to celebrate Donn’s life at a memorial service at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church on March 11, 2017. Those who wish to remember him are encouraged to honor his connection to the outdoors and the simple, steadfast work of tending family and farm — a lasting testament to the life he built and the people he loved.