Pastor John Johansen

Requiem - “Rest eternal grant them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.”

Pastor Emeritus John Loren Johansen, 1937-2022:

Pastor John Johansen, a retired ELCA minister on the roster of the Southern Ohio Synod, died Monday, June 20, at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH.

John was born December 13, 1937, in Newell, Iowa, to the late Axel and Genevieve (Heath) Johansen.  He was baptized into the Christian faith at Nain Lutheran Church, Newell, Iowa. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at that same church.

Pr. Johansen received his Bachelor’s Degree from the State University of South Dakota, and his Master of Divinity Degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. He was ordained in Des Moines, Iowa, in May of 1962.

Pr. John served a two point parish in Nebraska – St.Ansgar, Lindsay and Salem, St. Edward. He then served St. John’s Lutheran Church in Three Rivers, Michigan.  His next call was to All Saints Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio.  His final call was to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in West Milton, Ohio, where he retired in October of 2000. He served as interim pastor in his retirement at Shiloh, Lewisburg, St. Peter’s, New Lebanon, Trinity, Versailles, Zion, Dayton, and Hope, Dayton – all in Ohio.

Pr. Johansen is survived by his wife Betty Lou of West Milton, Ohio, his son Aaron (Renee) of Rapid City, South Dakota, grandchildren Amber (Matt) Taranto, Tyler (Shay) Johansen, and Zachary (Olivia) Johansen. He has four great grandchildren Isaac, Carsten, Asher, and, Avalee Taranto. His two brothers also mourn his passing: Paul (Judy) of Naples, Florida and Wayne (Marty) of Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

He also includes as survivors his step children and their families:  Jon (Debbie) Hauberg of Centerville, Ohio, and their children: Claire/Clayton, Cameron/Hanz, Virginia, and Connor; Cory (Dori) Hauberg of St. John’s Island, South Carolina and their children: Mitchell and Faith; and Eric and Erika Lumbra of Columbus, Ohio, and their children: Lucas and Tucker.

In addition to his church work, John was a member of Rotary International, loved music, singing, attending concerts and musical performances of all kinds. He read and studied continually, enjoyed traveling and being with family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 PM on Friday, June 24, 2022 at Hale-Sarver Family Funeral Home, 284 N. Miami St, West Milton. Pastor Peter Kruze and Pastor Larry Hoffsis will preside at the Memorial Eucharist at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, West Milton, Ohio, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 25.  Interment will be at Greenville Township Cemetery.

Arrangements are provided by Hale-Sarver Family Funeral Home, West Milton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts are requested to be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1209 South Main Street, West Milton, OH 45383 in John’s memory. Online memories of John may be left for the family at www.hale-sarver.com.

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