Willis Harris “Bill” Johnson, age 78, of Hudson, passed away on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at United Hospital in St. Paul after suffering a stroke on Tuesday.

He was born the fifth and youngest child of Harris S. and Clara C.A. (Siltberg) Johnson on April 17, 1932, in Garfield Township (Amery), Wis. From 1954-1956, Bill served his country in the U.S. Army. On May 26, 1956, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Moore at the Methodist Church in Balsam Lake, Wis. They would be blessed with three daughters: Katherine, Jean and Nancy. Bill was a master barber; he worked at for 14 years at Smitty’s Barber Shop in Stillwater, Minn. He then began his career as a custodian, spending one year with the Hudson School district and then retiring after 19 years as a custodian with 3M.

Bill enjoyed carpentry, hunting, fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Oral Johnson.

Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary; daughters, Kathy (Steve) O’Connell of Hudson Wis., Jean (Curt) Wilhelmson of Holmen, Wis., and Nancy (Todd) Rubey of Roseville, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Wendy (Chris) Bevers, Andy O’Connell, Megan and Connor Wilhelmson, Ariel and Amber Phillips, and Tony Rubey; great-grandson, Jackson Bevers; three sisters, Nora Swanson, Irma (Kenneth) Felland and Arlene Wicklander; brothers-in-law, Robert (Janet) Moore and Gordon(Mae) Moore; nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A funeral service will be held for Bill at 2 p.m. Friday, July 2, at the First Baptist Church of Hudson, 309 Vine St. Pastor Randy Fredrikson will officiate. Interment with military honors to follow in Willow River Cemetery. Visitations one hour prior to the service at church and from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, July 1, at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson, 520 S. 11th St., 715-386-3725. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com.