M.D. Maurice Donald Johnson

Maurice Donald 'M. D.' Johnson, 90November 17, 2007Maurice Donald Johnson, 90, Featherstone Township, Goodhue County, who in later years preferred to be called M.D., died on November 17, 2007. M.D. was born on November 1, 1917 to Carl Emil Leonard and Viva Christina (Almquist) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at Vasa Lutheran Church. He was raised on Echo Farm on Spring Creek in the Valley of the Seven Springs in Featherstone Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. He graduated from Red Wing High School in 1936 and had been active in 4-H. He attended Lutheran Bible Institute and Northwestern Seminary. He graduated with a BS from the University of Minnesota. M. D. served 51 months in the 34th ID during World War II. He served in North Africa and Italy in the Tunisia, North Apennines, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and Po Valley Campaigns. After the war, M.D. married Virginia Blanch Zaffke on September 12, 1946 at the Congregational Church in Backus, Minnesota. After a number of years working in the County Extension Service, the Post Office, teaching high school, and serving as the pastor of two rural churches, M. D. returned to his beloved valley and dairy farmed until he was 72 years old. He deeply appreciated the recognition of Echo Farm as a Century Farm in 2006. It has continuously been in the family for 112 years. M. D. is survived by his son Maurice and his daughter-in-law, Virginia Morrow Zaffke of Echo Farm in Featherstone Township; three grandchildren, Kate Marie Buerer of Woodinville, Washington, Captain Jedidiah Zaffke in Bagdad, Iraq and Jonathan David Zaffke of Lynchburg, Virginia; two great grandchildren, Sparrow Alexis Buerer and Sky Michael Buerer of Woodinville, WA; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Cecile and Jean, and his parents, C. L. and Viva Johnson.The celebration of his life will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, November23, 2007 at the Vasa Lutheran Church. Since M. D. wished to be buried in a simple pine casket without embalming, he had to be buried in the Vasa Church Cemetery next to his parents prior to the Memorial Service. Honorary pallbearers are Phil Johnston, Phillip Eckblad, Charles Petersen, Robert Burggren, Peter Burggren, David Burggren ,Thomas Gahlon, and Thomas Husband. Pastor Michael E. Dobbins, his friend, will deliver the meditation at M. D.'s Memorial Service. His cousin, Grace Nelson will be the organist. Arrangements are by the Wise Family Funeral Home, Hastings, Minnesota.