Wayne H. Johnson

It is with broken hearts we share the passing of Wayne Howard Johnson of Ham Lake.

Wayne was an amazing man and a testament to the human spirit. In March of 1983 at the age of 25, he was in a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. For 41 years he waged a battle against quadriplegia with determination, humor, and bravery.

He was unstoppable, a warrior for life, never complaining and never asking, why me?

Growing up in Golden Valley with 5 siblings, three of which were older sisters, he was cared for and loved for being an adorable little guy with twinkling eyes and a kind heart.

He grew into a tall, handsome, young man surrounded by friends, always up for a fun. He took immense pride in athleticism, and as a runner and a biker, pushed his body to the limits. After graduating from Armstrong High School, he joined the Navy where he made cherished lifelong friends. His Navy days grew fonder as he became older, remembering the antics of young men.

After his accident, he used his determined mindset, together with his soul-mate Laurie to rebuild a life filled with love, traveling, family, and friends. Without being able to write for himself, he went back to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Mathematics and eventually a Master's degree in Software Engineering. He started his career at the St. Paul Companies and worked as hard as humanly possible. After retiring, he spent countless hours tutoring college students in a variety of subjects, showing endless compassion to the students who needed him most. As a veteran, he loved this country and was a fierce defender of his beliefs. He read and studied every subject imaginable and checked the facts on all political topics, not being swayed without researching. No day was complete without reading Powerlineblog. Those guys were his heroes.

Loving people came easy to Wayne, showering everyone with kindness. He was quick to compliment and always looked for ways to make someone happy. Surprise gifts arriving in the mail were common. Wayne loved each member of his big family, never holding back at telling them how special they were and giving out mandatory hugs. His brother-of-the-heart, Mike Vadnais, gave him a lifetime of friendship, support, and mutual respect. Music held a special place in their hearts and the classic 70s couldn't be beat.

"Name that tune" was a constant competition. Their newest competition was backgammon, and they spent countless hours battling while laughing, swearing, and secretly rooting the other guy on. Mostly in life, Wayne loved Laurie who walked with him every step of the way on the journey of their life. Together they loved, laughed, and faced the immense challenges head on. Wayne's thoughtful gestures, quick wit, horrible jokes, amazing mind, and loving heart made a lasting impression on all who had the honor of knowing him. There will never be another Wayne.

Wayne is survived by his beloved soul-mate Laurie Vadnais; brother-in-law, Mike Vadnais (Maggie); sister-in-law, Lynn Vadnais; sisters; Sue Bitney, Margaret Carr, Janet

Murphy (Kevin); brother, Bill Johnson; and many loving nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends near and far. Wayne is preceded in death by his parents Norman and Helen Johnson; father and mother-in-law John and Mary Vadnais; brother, Michael Johnson; brothers-in-law: Jim Bitney, Ray Carr, and Kevin Vadnais; sister-in-law, Lisa Vadnais Lee.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Glen Cary Lutheran Church, 15531 Central Avenue NE, Ham Lake, Minnesota.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.