Thomas William Johnston, age 81 of Burnsville, Minnesota, formerly of Roberts, Wisconsin, passed away December 27, 2021 at the M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville. Tom was born on July 24, 1940 in River Falls, WI to Ralph and Irene (McCaustland) Johnston. He graduated from Roberts High School, and was united in marriage to Marietta Johnson on August 9, 1959 at the Roberts Congregational Church in Roberts, WI. The couple was blessed with six sons, Scott, Rodney, Mitchell, Mike, Ross, and Colin. Tom loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his sons. Tragedy struck the Johnston family with the death of four year-old son Ross in 1972. Tom worked in trade show sales and management for several companies including Control Data Corporation where he worked for 36 years. He went on to co-own Graham Marketing, another trade show company. Tom and Marietta enjoyed snowmobiling and were members of the Roberts Knight Riders Snowmobile Club. Tragedy again fell upon the family in 1994 when Marietta died in a snowmobile accident near Ontonagon, MI. Since, Tom and Diane Matheis, long time friends, have spent the last 20+ years supporting and looking after each other. Tom was very proud to be recognized in 2019 as one of 12 community builders by the mayor and city council of Burnsville for his years of dedicated service to the community. He will be missed by many.

Tom is survived by his sons, Scott, Rodney (Bonnie), Mitchell (Cheryl), Mike (Mia), and Colin (Amanda); his life partner, Diane Matheis; grandchildren, Tony, Brett, Jake (Alyssa), and Riley Johnston; Amanda (Kyle) Mallien, Andrea (Skylar Yacktus) Geppert; Michelle (Mike Lohmann) Lindus, Melinda (Brent) Mueller; Zac and Zoe Johnston; Madalyne, Isabella, Autumn, and Sawyer Johnston; great-grandchildren, Ryker, Callan, Marietta, Noah, Elijah, Addilyn, Maddox, Hailey, Bridget, and Octavia; Diane’s children, Justin Reiten, and Jamacy (Chris) McKinney; Diane’s grandchildren, Lincoln and Jack; his brother, Gary (Connie) Johnston; and many extended relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Marietta; son, Ross; and his parents, Ralph and Irene Johnston.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Tom’s life will be held from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2022 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin, 1010 Newton St., Baldwin, WI. A private interment will be held at the Warren Cemetery in Roberts, WI. Memorials are preferred.