Johnson, Douglas Reed: Age 75 of Woodbury and Northfield. Preceded in death by his wife, Michele, his parents, Bill and Marian Johnson, and Margaret Ranweiler, his mother-in-law, who lived with the family for several decades. Survived by his son, Greg (Seattle), and daughter Ellen (Carl) Alty (Los Angeles), siblings Judy Tonolli, Carol (Bob) Talley, Brian (Marcia), Reed (Cathy), Peggy (Pat) Zimmer, and numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Born in Willmar, MN., on January 11, 1949, Doug moved to Tracy in 1957, and was a standout three-sport athlete, graduating in 1967. He played football and baseball at St. Olaf College, graduating in 1971 with a degree in history. He married Michele Ranweiler in 1976, raising Greg and Ellen from homes in St. Paul, and later, in Woodbury. He taught history and coached football at La Crescent, MN., Faribault Bethlehem Academy, and for 33 years at Woodbury HS. He also served as golf coach at Woodbury HS. Doug coached collegiate football at Wartburg College (’74) and Macalester College (’79-’80), and for the last 11 years at his favorite place — St. Olaf College. He also refereed countless high school football and basketball games, mostly with his close friend, Ron Groth.
Doug never tired of talking with people, whether longtime friends or strangers. He loved sharing jokes, funny stories, or lighthearted conversation about sports or politics. He also loved to get your opinion on a topic, take the opposite viewpoint, and yet not make it personal.
He and Michele enjoyed traveling together, taking many road trips around the country to visit their children. After Michele’s death, Doug took several trips to Europe, including a 2017 trip with his children to visit his son-in-law’s family in England, and also recently to accompany the St. Olaf College football team to Norway.
Doug loved sports, pure and simple. He was an active participant throughout his formative years – highlighted by quarterbacking St. Olaf to an undefeated season in 1970. Once his football, basketball and baseball days were behind him, golf became his passion, coaching at Woodbury, or playing at any course where the pins were in the holes. If not playing in a game, you’d often find him at either a professional game or at any Gopher venue. He traveled near and far to attend games and/or activities of his many nieces and nephews, most recently to Germany with Greg to see his great-nephew Booker’s basketball games. He also loved teaching kids how to play, not only as a coach, but as a neighbor of young kids. He had a basket in his driveway, and his back yard was usually converted to either a baseball diamond or a golf course.
He had a great memory for jokes and stories, and enjoyed retelling (and embellishing) them. And his joke telling was so repetitive that we kidded him about just numbering them so we’d get to the punch line sooner.
Doug passed away suddenly on June 16 due to a respiratory illness.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 2 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 1321 North Ave in Northfield, MN. Inurnment will be held privately at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Oakdale. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative (or NYSC) northfieldsports.org, Northfield Community Action Center communityactioncenter.org, or to the charity of your choice.