Born in a two room cabin with no power, no running water in Fox Hollow, Dayton Township, Richland County , Wisconsin, Sept 30 1907, Pete lived a full life until Aug 13, 2011. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 1927 after stopping for two years to help out the family.
Pete went on to college in Milwaulkee to study electrical engineering. Pete married his sweetheart Wilda (Wilson) and raised two boys William (Bill) and Donald (Don) Johnson. After working many different jobs, Pete owned and operated the Wilson’s market in R.C. during the war years of 1940 to 1951. He was a lifetime member of the R.C. Masonic Lodge where he was a 32nd degree mason. He sold the market and moved the family to Clearwater, Florida in 1951 where he was with Texaco from 1951 through 1986, and owned and operated a motel on Clearwater Beach.
After his retirement he lived at The Top of The World retirement community. After the passing of his wife Wilda in 1992, he continued to live at OTOTWorld for the rest of his days.
He is survived by his two sons, Bill and Don Johnson; 11 grand children; a sister, Helen Southerland; and dear friend and companion Margaret Fielder.
Hi, I was so sorry to hear of Pete’s death. When I was little my family came down to Florida from time to time to visit, and I used to play with one of Pete’s grandchildren. My parent’s were Howard and BernaDean Anderson and they were friends with Pete and Wilda. My parents lived in Richland Center and I was born in Dunedin Fl, when my parents ran a fish campmotel at Tarpon springs. Howard passed in 1995, and BernaDean in 2008.
Sorry for your loss. I have a picture taken in the 60’s of Pete, my dad, his son and I think me, that I would gladly email you if you’d like.
sincerely…Becky