Charles H. Johnson

Charles Hiram Johnson, 94, of Minocqua, WI (formerly of Plainfield, WI) passed away on November 22, 2021.
Charles was born on March 18, 1927 in the Township of Leola (west of Plainfield) to Vance and Vera (Wing) Johnson. Charles served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Porterfield DD682 in the South Pacific during WWII from 1945 – 1947. Charles married Dorothy Mae (Keenlance) Johnson on September 12, 1947. Charles and Dorothy settled on a farm in Leola Township for about 3 years until Charles decided farming was not his passion.
Charles began his many years of service in the cheese industry by working at C.J. Berst & Co. A few years later, Charles started his own company, C. Johnson Cheese Equipment in Plainfield. Shortly after, Charles and Dorothy opened Charlie’s Fine Cheese in Plainfield.
Charles was an outdoorsman whose love for fishing began as a child where he grew up near Roche-a-Cri Creek, west of Plainfield. During his lifetime, Charles enjoyed annual fishing trips to Ontario, Canada with his friends and family. His love for the outdoors led he and Dorothy from Central Wisconsin to the Northwoods where they bought a log cabin home on Squirrel Lake. In 1982, they built a second Charlie’s Fine Cheese in the Northwoods in Hazelhurst. While operating the cheese store, Charles created Econo Cheese Equipment. Charles & Dorothy retired in Minocqua.
In 2012, Charles was honored by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association with the Distinguished Service Award for more than 60 years of contributions to the industry at the International Cheese Technology EXPO in Milwaukee.
Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Vance & Vera (Wing) Johnson, his sister Marjorie (Johnson) & Vance Staples, brother Clifton (Bud) Johnson, sister-in-law Gladys (Connover) Johnson, Granddaughter Melissa (Sullivan) Olson and nephews Glenn Staples & Chris Johnson.
Charles is survived by his wife of 74 years, Dorothy Johnson, children Sandra (Johnson) & Dr. William (Bill) Sullivan, Charles (Chuck) & Shirley Johnson, Gary & Mary Johnson. Grandchildren Eric & Amylin Johnson, Heidi (Johnson) & Chris Webber, Travis & Christine Johnson, Maeghan (Sullivan) & Chad Johnson, Jeremiah & Kira (Korsch) Johnson, Shannon (Johnson) & Marshall Spence. Great grandchildren Abigail & Alexis Olson, Callie & Mason Johnson, Will & Connor Johnson, Makenna Zwetz & Garrett Spence, Savannah, Tristan and Evelyn Johnson, Ozzie Bunch, Nolan, Kai and Krosby Johnson along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Cremation took place and private family services will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be shared at nimsgernfuneral.com
NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES IS SERVING THE FAMILY.