A. Donald Johnson

A. Donald Johnson age 86 of New Hampton died Friday evening, October 28, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at the Jerico Lutheran Church, rural Lawler, with Pastor Daniel Larson officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery with Adam Riley, Wes Busch, Eric Gunderson, Bill Boyd, Bob Vorwald, Mike Webster and John Gorman serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Matthew Johnson and John Riley. Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. A. Donald “Satch” Johnson was born May 2, 1925, on the Johnson family farm north of Lawler, IA, in rural Chickasaw County, the oldest son of Ole Andrew and Sophia (Ronnei) Johnson. He received his education in rural country school. At an early age, Don obtained a love for the game of baseball, never straying too far from a ball, bat and glove for his entire life. In 1945, he had a try-out for the Philidelphia Phillies and in 1946, tried out in Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs. “Satch” and others in the New Hampton area, including his brother, Avey, were instrumental in the organization, management and playing in the New Hampton Merchant Team. On September 7, 1947, at the Jerico Lutheran Church, rural Lawler, he married LaVonne Knutson. To this union two children were born. Don initially worked for A.R. Morse Implement Dealership in New Hampton and then began farming north of town from 1948 - 1965. While farming, Don also worked at the former Super-Sweet Feeds from 1959 - 1965. He then went to work at Land-O-Lakes in New Hampton, retiring in the late 1980’s. He served on the New Hampton City Council from 1983 - 1989 and was also the Mayor of New Hampton from 1990 - 1997. Don continued his love for baseball by umpiring for over 29 years. He could be seen at nearly every game in New Hampton. He was an avid fan of Chickasaw sports and followed his grandchildren in all their activities. He will be remembered by his family as a devoted husband, a loving father and an involved and proud grandparent. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, LaVonne; one son, Ovey (Shirley) Johnson of New Hampton; one daughter, Deborah K. (Steve) Riley of New Hampton; five grandchildren, Heather (Eric) Gunderson, Matthew (Lourdes) Johnson, John (Tina) Riley, Adam (Jessica) Riley, Jennifer (Wes) Busch; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Avey (Carole) Johnson of New Hampton; two sisters, Shirley (Ed) Abt of Elk River, MN, Joan (LaVern) Blietz of Edina, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Gladys Hadley, Lorraine Johnson and Eileen Johnson in infancy.