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In Memory Of

Michael W. Johnson

December 6, 1945 - March 20, 2025


Visitation:
There will be no visitation.

Services:
There will be no services.

A Celebration of Life for Mike will be held at a later date.

Full Obituary

Game Recap
Michael Warren Johnson
1945–2025
 
1st Inning
Michael Warren Johnson, 79, was born December 6, 1945 in Neillsville, WI to Delmond and Amber (Nolan) Johnson. He was the oldest (and most mischievous) of four children.

2nd Inning
Mike grew up on a farm outside of Greenwood where he spent his days collecting baseball cards, playing baseball with his neighbors, and wreaking havoc upon the neighborhood. He occasionally went to school at Christopherson Elementary. Mike lived to play ball.

3rd Inning
In 1964, he graduated from Greenwood High School. He spent time working at Trailblazer and starting his farming career. He joined the Army Reserve in 1967. And, of course, played some more ball. 

4th Inning
In the winter of 1965, he met his future wife, Shirley Santala, at a roughneck dancehall (A.K.A The Mile Away) and was “immediately smitten.” It was love at first sight.

5th Inning
Mike and Shirley were married in Ashland, WI on August 5, 1967, in a small church surrounded by the only two people they could find. One month later, the oldest son, Eric was born.

6th Inning
Over the next 19 years, Mike and Shirley had six more children, Amy, Trent, “the little boys” – Tinker and Luke, and “the little girls” – Kallie and Kasey. Mike helped populate the Greenwood School District for 32 straight years. He loved teaching his children how to play any sort of ball and would rarely miss their sporting events, except for cross country meets, which he didn’t consider a real sport anyway.

7th Inning
Mike continued farming at Mi-Shi Diamond Star Dairy until he hung up that hat in 2003. Over the years, he played as much softball as he could for as long as he could, coached FFA basketball, and umpired countless Little League baseball games. He even had a brief stint in a few of the bowling leagues in town. After retiring from farming, he started For Da Birds, building and selling birdhouses.

8th Inning
Mike started driving school bus for Greenwood Schools in 1984. He drove hundreds of students and generations of families until November 13, 2024. Mike’s bus was the coveted bus and his end-of-the-year water fights were legendary. Mike continued to receive Christmas cards from some of his very first riders.

9th Inning
Mike passed away peacefully on March 20, 2025 surrounded by his family. Mike lived his life “juuuuuuuuust a bit outside.” He loved his community, farming, hunting, playing ball, gardening, attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. Along with his family, Mike’s true love was the Milwaukee Brewers! Family Brewer weekends at the stadium were always a highlight of his year. We truly do believe his final words were “The Cubs suck.”

Mike loved his family and was immensely proud of the large and loving family he and Shirley created.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Delmond and Amber Johnson, brother, John, daughter-in-law Gina Johnson, father-in-law, Eugene Santala, brother-in-law, Ken Mengel and his nephew Keith Mengel.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Shirley, his children, Eric (Kathy), Amy (Josh) Vollrath, Trent (Erica), Tinker (Penny), Luke (Lara), Kallie (Brian) and Kasey (Jordan), his grandchildren, Tyler, Logan (Neilana), Jeffrey (Rylie), Ty,  Ryan (Alyssa), Teagan (Trevor), Tatum, Gianna, Bo, Vander, Taylan (Ryan), Rylie (Jeffrey), Jaeger, Baileigh (Jarrett), Delainey, Kendra, Madisen, Larissa and Jack, his great-grandchildren, Callum, Leo, Reese, Luca, Beckham, Andie, Remi, and Nolan, his sister Karen (Duane) Milz, brother Dean, sister-in-law, Pat Mengel, cousins, many nieces and nephews and countless friends who will miss his smart lip and classic wave.

It was a great game and we only wish it would have gone into extra innings. Rest easy MJ and go Brewers! We will celebrate Mike’s game of life at a future date.