Curler.
Born at Winnipeg on 6 December 1910, son of Vilhjalmur Gudjon “William” Johnson (1867-1943) and Oddny Gunnborunn Einarsdottir (1866-1950), he was raised and educated at Winnipeg. He was founder, President, and Manager of Home Securities Company Limited.
He started curling at the Deer Lodge Curling Club in 1919, moving to the Strathcona Curling Club for more competition. He was a three-time Manitoba Men's Curling Champion (1934, 1944, 1946). In 1934, his team of Lorne Stewart (1909-1968), brother Lincoln Johnson (1899-1970), and Marno Frederickson (1906-1992) captured the Macdonald Brier Canadian Men's Championship. He skipped teams to the MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate in 1936 and 1941. In 1945 his team won the Men's City Championship. In 1965 he skipped his team of Marno Frederickson, Fred Smith (1904-1970), and Cliff Wise (1897-1975) to the inaugural Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship.
He also was involved in curling administratively, as Strathcona Club President (1934-1935) and Manitoba Curling Association President (1963-1964). He was made an Honourary Life Member of the Strathcona Curling Club as well as the Manitoba Curling Association in 1962. He also served as President of the Southwood Golf and Country Club (1945-1946) and was an Honourary Life Member of that club. He received a City of Winnipeg Community Service Award (1973).
On 26 July 1929, he married Jonina Sigridur “Jean” Olson at Winnipeg. They had two children: Leo Edward Johnson (?-1982) and Lincoln Kenneth Johnson (?-1987). He served on the Board of Trustees for First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Masons (Ionic Lodge #25).
He died at Winnipeg on 5 March 1976 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery. He was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame (1989) and Canadian Curling Hall of fame (2005).
“Curling loses one of its true greats,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 March 1976, page 41.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 March 1976, page 16.
This page was prepared by Rick Mutton.
Page revised: 20 November 2023
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