Charles Edmunds Johansen, age 87, passed away at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota on Sunday, February 12, 2023 surrounded by his family.

Chuck was born September 4, 1935 to Olga and Arthur Johansen. He and his three siblings were raised in Luck, Wisconsin by his mother following the death of his father when Chuck was just 6 weeks old. He became very involved in sports while attending high school, enjoying basketball and football. Upon his graduation from Luck High School in 1953, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While stationed there he proposed to his high school sweetheart, Judy Greenquist. They were married in a double wedding with friends in El Paso on May 28, 1955. Chuck was then deployed to Germany while Judy returned home to St. Croix Falls where she had their first child, Tom. Chuck did not get to meet his new son until he returned from Germany when Tom was 9 months old.

Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1956, Chuck attended UW-River Falls and earned his teaching degree. While attending River Falls, Chuck and Judy’s second child, Jodi, was born. Upon graduation in 1960, he took his first teaching job in Janesville, Wisconsin. He taught there for one year before being hired in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Chuck taught in the St. Croix Falls School District from the fall of 1961 until 1966. During this time, he served as Dresser building principal, guidance counselor and classroom teacher. In 1966 Chuck and Judy’s youngest daughter, Kelly, was born and soon after that Chuck accepted an elementary teaching position in South St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1993 he retired, finishing out his 33 years teaching career. He was remembered by many students as a tough but fair teacher
who cared deeply for his students.

While the kids were young, Chuck built a small houseboat on a pontoon that was docked on the St. Croix River. The family spent many weekends on the river before deciding to purchase a pop-up camper. Many camping trips were made creating memories that would last a lifetime. The family then graduated from the camper to a cabin that Chuck and Judy purchased on Paulsen Lake just north of Star Prairie, Wisconsin. In 1979, the cabin was moved off and a home was built. Chuck and Judy moved to their lake home but they still commuted to jobs in South St. Paul. The lake was their happy place. Chuck took pride in his yard and enjoyed fishing in the summer and snowmobiling on and around the lake in the winter. He was an avid reader and enjoyed woodworking, keeping Judy busy painting his creations.

In 2002 Chuck and Judy sold their lake home and moved to a townhome in St. Croix Falls. They also spent several winters in Brownsville, Texas until they decided being home watching their grandchildren grow and excel was more important.

Even after Judy’s death in 2017, Chuck remained at the townhome and led a very independent life. He loved taking drives usually to visit his children and grandchildren. At 87, Chuck was still busy attending church, dining out, and even treating himself to a Burnette Dairy ice cream cone with his good friend and neighbor, Vic.

Chuck is survived and greatly missed by his family, Tom (Karen) Johansen and their children, Tyler (Sarah) Johansen and Mallory (Chris) Jiracek; Jodi (Neil) Schwanz and their children, Gini Schwanz, Libby (Gage) Phillips, and Tessa Schwanz; Kelly (Chris) Nelson and their children, Kendra (Mike) Carlson, Lucas (Jalana) Nelson, Olivia (Chase) Schrupp, and Carly Nelson; 15 great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Lucille, Landon, Elliot, Riley, Connor, Brody, Garrett, Kennedy, Amaya, Vivian, Grair, Cooper, Knox, and baby Schrupp due in June; sister, Delores Novack; brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Melodie Greenquist, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Chuck is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Judy; parents, Olga and Arthur Johansen; brother, Sanford (Audrey) Johansen; sister, LaVonne (Leonard) Johnson; brothers-in-law, Harvey Novack and John (Audrey) Greenquist. Chuck will be deeply missed by the many hearts he touched as a father, brother, uncle, teacher, and friend.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Joy Lutheran Church in Centuria, Wisconsin. A visitation will take place two hours prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.

Last Update: Feb 16, 2023 5:25 pm CST