B. Wayne Johnson

life story

B. Wayne Johnson

Age 83, of Coon Rapids, MN, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN. He died of complications from a heart attack. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Marjorie. Children, Jennifer Nelson, Ellick (Nicole) Johnson, and Karla (Aaron) Schuh. Siblings, Wendy (Art) Newsham, Willard (Cheryl) Johnson, Ede (Aron) May, Paul (Laura) Johnson, Jean Pfeiffer, Melvin (Trudy) Johnson. Grandchildren, Palmer (Stasia) Held, Lucy Nelson, Amelia Johnson, Zander Johnson, Haven Schuh, Sebastian Schuh, Jonathan Schuh, and two great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Greta Johnson, and his brother-in-law, Evans Griffith.

Wayne was born on November 1, 1942, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Bert Johnson and Greta McMillan. He grew up in North Battleford, SK, the second oldest of 7 children. He graduated from North Battleford Collegiate Institute in 1960. After high school, Wayne attended Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, graduating in 1964, and then continuing on to Bethel Seminary, graduating with a Masters of Divinity in 1968.

Wayne married Marjorie Hecker of DeGraff, MN, in the summer of 1967. Together they raised three children: Jennifer, Ellick, and Karla.

Wayne served in the pastorate at East Balsam Baptist Church in Balsam Lake, WI, from 1968 to 1976, and at Salem Baptist Church in Ashland, WI, from 1976 to 1985. In 1985, they moved to the Twin Cities and Wayne worked for IDS in Minneapolis (later Ameriprise Financial Services) until his retirement in 2007.

Wayne was dedicated to the study and teaching of God’s word. In addition to serving in the pastorate, he was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher for 38 years at Coon Rapids Evangelical Free Church, retiring just last year. He also enjoyed his coffee groups, where he could discuss topics of theology and a faith-filled life.

Wayne, alongside his wife Marjorie, cultivated a backyard full of beautiful gardens, enjoyed by family, friends, and neighbors for the past 40 years. Wayne’s love of weeding was the perfect complement to Marjorie’s love of planting. He also enjoyed the birds, particularly the cardinals, that would visit their yard. Wayne loved being out in God’s creation – hiking mountains in Colorado, visiting the north shore of Lake Superior, camping in state and national parks. He enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren in Colorado and California, as well as travels to Israel, the Mediterranean, Ukraine, and

Hungary with his wife. In his younger decades, Wayne also loved a good road trip. Wayne’s hobbies included photography and wood-carving. In the summer, he enjoyed biking; in the winter, he tended to jigsaw puzzles. On warm summer evenings, Wayne could not resist a drive in his red VW Bug convertible, with the top down, to get a cone of praline ice cream. Wayne also found delight in the companionship of his little dog, Luna.

The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and specialists in the Cardiology Department and the nurses and staff on the cardiac floor at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. Their care for Wayne was extraordinary in a difficult time.

Wayne will be missed dearly by his family and many friends. There will be a funeral to celebrate and honor Wayne’s life on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Coon Rapids Evangelical Free Church, 2650 128th Ave. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448. Visitation will be at 10:00 am, funeral service at 11:00 am. Luncheon to follow.

memorial service

Memorial Service

July 25, 2026

Coon Rapids Evangelical Free Church 2650 128th Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448, USA

Visitation starting at 10:00am.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services