Wayne Johnson

Wayne K. Johnson, of Siren, WI, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2016, at St. Croix Regional Medical Center, at the age of 78. Wayne was born March 28, 1938, in Wauwatosa, WI, to Martha (Savall) Brickl and was adopted at 3 months of age by Roy and Violet Johnson of Frederic. Wayne graduated from Frederic High School in 1956. He then moved to the Twin Cities for a short time to work and later returned to the area. He married Judith Nyberg on May 9, 1959, and settled in Siren to work and raise a family. Throughout the years Wayne was involved in various community organizations which included the Siren Fire Department, Siren Lions Club, ATV Club, and Burnett County ROTC program. The hobbies he loved throughout the years were model trains, car racing, snowmobiling, ATVs, collecting John Deere toy tractors, old cars, painting crafts and puzzles. In his earlier years he was a very avid bowler, bowling on several leagues a week. Wayne worked at a few different jobs: Rolite Company, then the Ford garage in Grantsburg, and Doerr Electric Corp.-Siren Division, before switching to his passion of law enforcement. He worked for the village of Siren as a part time police officer and later was hired as the Chief of Police. Wayne held this position for 20+ years along with assisting at the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department. He then worked at North States Industries, and semi-retired to drive bus for Diversified Services. Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Judith; parents, Roy and Violet Johnson; and birth mother, Martha Brickl. Wayne is survived by a son, Todd (Cheryl) Johnson; a daughter, Kim (Glen) Talmadge; grandchildren: Matthew (Jenna) Talmadge, Jacob Talmadge, David Johnson, Cara Johnson and Jeremy Johnson. Also surviving are a sister, Jeanine (Bob) Whitwam; nephews, Randy and Scott Hoover; niece, Lynn (Jon) Blomstrand; and many cousins and friends. The memorial service honoring Wayne’s life will be conducted at 2:00 pm (visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 pm), Saturday, May 7, 2016, at Siren Covenant Church in Siren, with Pastor Steve Ward officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, WI. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com.