Walter "Wally" H. Johnson
Walter “Wally” H. Johnson, 86, of Waukon died Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A private graveside service was held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon in consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Condolences may be sent to Cindy Schellhammer at 1274 Highway 9, Lansing, IA 52151.
Walter Harold Johnson, Jr. was born February 21, 1934 in Newell to Walter and Della (Santage) Johnson. He attended Newell Community Schools and graduated from Newell High School in 1951. Wally attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon for one year before transferring to Drake University in Des Moines to finish his college education. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1955. During his junior year, in 1954, Wally married Carole Melberg (from the Iowa town of Norway). They later divorced in 1981.
After college graduation, Wally took a job at the Burlington Gazette in Burlington. In 1957, Wally was offered a job at the Eagle Grove Eagle in Eagle Grove, where the family resided for five years. In 1962, Wally, with co-investors, purchased the newspapers Waukon Republican-Standard and Waukon Democrat in Waukon from Leslie and Louis Hull. He was managing editor/publisher in Waukon until 1986. Wally also helped out with ad sales and photography for the newspaper during this time. In 1981, Wally’s son, Tom, joined the newspaper staff. Together they co-published Waukon Newspapers until 1986.
Promotion of Allamakee County was very important to Wally. He served on the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, Park Board, and the Waukon Golf and Country Club Board. Wally was an active member at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon as a member of the Board of Trustees and a choir member.
Wally relocated to New Hampshire in 1986, where he helped manage Lake Sunapee Country Club in New London, NH. Wally split his time between Florida (during the winter months) and New Hampshire for many years. In 2012, he returned to Waukon, where he spent his remaining years.
Wally was an avid fisherman and spent many hours on the trout streams in Allamakee County. He loved to play cards, listen to music, work crosswords, and truly enjoyed playing golf.
Wally is survived by three children: Tom (Gail) Johnson of Cross Plains, WI, Cindy (Larry) Schellhammer of Lansing and Ann (Isaac Leitz) Wilding of Portland, OR; five grandchildren: Matt (Rebekah) Johnson of Iowa City, John Schellhammer of Lansing, Maria (Scott) Anderson of West Des Moines, Leah (Tony) Runyan of Cedar Falls and Kaia Brunso of Seattle, WA; his great-grandchildren: Micah, Mathias and Max Johnson, Abby and Tate Anderson, and a step-great-granddaughter, Liv Runyan; as well as his niece and nephews.
Wally was preceded in death by his son, Randy; his parents; his sister, June Eno; and his brother, Andy Johnson.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
