Dr. Lawrence V. Johanson

Dr. Lawrence Verner “Doc” Johanson, 95, of Thompson died January 25, 2015 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Thompson, Iowa with Pastor Lynn Noel officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 till service time at the church on Saturday.

Private family burial will take place at East Chain Lutheran Cemetery, rural Martin County Minnesota.

Memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church in care of “Doc”.

Doc was born on August 4, 1919, in East Chain Township, Martin County, Minnesota to Olander I. and May E. (Larson) Johanson. He was baptized and confirmed at the East Chain Lutheran Church and graduated from East Chain Consolidated High School in 1937. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree on March 19, 1943, from the College of Veterinary Medicine Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), Ames, Iowa. Doc married Dorothy “Dotty” Ann Cole in Roland, Iowa on May 2, 1943.

Doc served as an officer in the United States Army from 1943 to 1947. After his honorable discharge from the Army as a Captain, Doc practiced veterinary medicine in the Thompson, Iowa area for 55 years. During this time, he practiced alone, with Dr. Dale Welborne and later for many years with Dr. Duane Jacobson. He was also involved with farming and feeding cattle in East Chain Township, Martin County, Minnesota through 2001.

Doc was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church since he came to Thompson, was a life member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, served on the Thompson Community School Board for many years, was a Board Member of the Winnebago County School System for 9 years and was involved in many community organizations and activities. Doc and Dotty did everything together and he enjoyed gardening, farming, fishing and going to their cabin on the Whitefish Chain, Crosslake, Minnesota.

Doc is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Dorothy A. Johanson; sons, Douglas L. (Elizabeth) Johanson of Winnebago, MN, Steven L. (Valerie) Johanson of Forest City, IA and Kent A. (Suzanne) Johanson of Estero, FL; grandchildren, Dr. Christopher J. (Zannie Sandoval) Johanson, Jonathan W. Johanson, Kirsten E. Johanson, Jordan P. Johanson and Davis L. Johanson; great-grandson, Nicolas D. Johanson; brother, E. Morris (Jean) Johanson and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Melvin O. Johanson; his sister, Phyllis M. Brown, and his brother-in-law, Kenneth Brown.