Lee Johnson, 71

Lee Vernon Johnson, 71, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 25, 2012.

Lee was born September 29, 1940 in Alexandria, the son of Vernon and Lucille (Carmody) Johnson. He graduated from Central High School in Alexandria and then served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962. After serving his country, Lee returned to Minnesota and attended Business College in Minneapolis before returning to Alexandria to work with his father at the Coca Cola Plant.

Lee was an excellent businessman who could take any business and turn it into a gold mine. Because of his great business sense, he could find different loop holes to make things work to his advantage. As the owner of the Alexandria Coca Cola Company, he also enjoyed collecting Coke memorabilia. He was an entrepreneur of the Midway Mall Cinema 9 Theatre in Alexandria and Squeaky Clean Car Wash.

Lee was a character with a mischievous, happy, upbeat and festive spirit who would bring a smile to your face when you saw him. He was a ray of sunshine to everyone he touched. He was also a very trustworthy and dependable man.

On October 1, 2005, Lee was united in marriage to Carol Posey. The couple enjoyed the past seven years together going on numerous trips in the motor home throughout North America. Carol and the kids loved Lee’s cooking. He was a wonderful chef and was known for his amazing ribs along with his baked breads and other recipes. He will also be remembered for his wonderful garden called “the patch,” where he could grow anything but was best known for his homemade pickles.

Lee also obtained his pilot’s license at an early age, but his mother, Ceil was the only one who would actually get in an airplane with him in the beginning. He was a wonderful pilot and flew to several different places with family and friends.

Whether you will remember Lee’s laugh, his grin, the “eyebrow,” or the twinkle in his eye, he always made you smile. He will be missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Bridget Johnson of Bedford, Texas, Monica and Drey Lucibello of Chicago, Ill, JoAnn and Eric Tyler of Oak Point, Texas; son, Lee Jr. of Florida; stepdaughter, Sonja Johnson Moore; seven grandchildren, Bri, Lacey, Sydney, Jake, Emy, Ava and Peyton; sisters, Virginia Zawacki, Patricia Hogue, Mary Kay and Bill Metzger; and uncle, Jack Carmody.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Alexandria. Pallbearers were Lee Johnson Jr., Drey Lucibello, Jake Tyler, Eric Tyler, Sam Allen, Les Chermak, Dan Clobes and John Perino. Honorary pallbearers were Dick Zweig, Scott Quitmeyer, Kurt Backlund, Al Benowitz, Clair Morrison, Vigil Batesole and Tom Lye.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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