Dennis Johnson

Career:

In 1974 I graduated from Blackhawk Technical Institute with an Automotive Technician Diploma. Subsequently, I worked as a technician at several Automotive Dealerships including JA Christiansen Ford (Clinton, WI), Ottum Dodge (Sharon, WI) and Frontier Ford (Rockford, IL). Boy, those are some names from the past!

I had an opportunity to start operating the filling station at Ernie’s in Clinton, WI (Denny’s Service Station) from 1978-1979. My gas station days ended in February 1979 when I decided to go back to my roots and dairy farm at the farm owned by my parents just north of Clinton on Hwy 140. After selling the cows in 1986 I became the Service Advisor at Gene Dencker Buick-Pontiac (GDBP) in Beloit, WI. Within 3 months I had become the Service Director.

While Service Director (23 years) at GDBP I had the honor of being named the #1 Mid Size Dealership Service Director in the Chicago Zone for 9 consecutive years as well as multiple non-consecutive years and was the #1 Mid Size Dealership Service Director in the nation. This award was based on Customer Satisfaction and profitability. These honors resulted in winning multiple prizes and trips and a lot of great memories. When the dealership was sold in 2006, I became the Transport Supervisor for Allied Transport, Inc. in Janesville. I oversaw ensuring the vehicles manufactured at GM in Janesville were loaded on trains and routed to the right destination. Life changed again with the closing of the GM plant in Janesville, and I worked under a contract for Alliant Energy. When the contract was fulfilled, I became a service advisor at multiple dealerships. I also went back to crop farming, and we operated Spirit Hill Pumpkinland each fall (giving joy to a lot of kids of all ages) and we still do apple cider donut fundraisers annually with 100% of proceeds going to that year’s charity. I then decided to slow down (quit working at dealerships) and took the most rewarding job of all working as a Bus Driver transporting special needs children to a specialty school in Elkhorn, WI. I did this until my health forced me to stop in 2023. I still miss it today. We sold the farm in 2017, built a new home, and moved to Milton, WI.

Personal Life:

I met the love of my life, Carol Van Den Langenberg (Walt’s sister) in early 1977 and we were married in November of that year. We have two daughters and three grandchildren. My oldest daughter (Aslynn Johnson Huisheere) owns and operates a full-service hair salon in Clinton, WI (Bombshells and Flyguys) and makes the most creative mid-century modern repro and kitsch/boho fiberglass lampshades which she sells and ships all over the world. She is married to Brandon who works at Dutton Welding & Millwright Services in Darien, WI, and crops farms over 1,000 acres. They gifted us with two grandchildren, Jillian Huisheere Dejong (Keaton) and Hudson, (currently, a Jr. in High School). Our youngest daughter Ashley is an Account Executive for Vizance, Inc. a company headquartered in WI with branches in MN and ND. Ashley specializes in self-funded health care plans and wellness initiatives for mid-size and large corporations, schools, and businesses. She has been highly successful in her role, winning many awards and trips to exotic locations. She has gifted us with one grandson, Caiden, currently, a sophomore in high school. I am enormously proud of my family and their accomplishments.

I
n January 2023 I was diagnosed with a brain abscess caused by a rare bacterium (doctors have not been able to figure out how I contracted it) and at the same time was also diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). I spent 65 days at Aurora St Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee, WI first undergoing emergency brain surgery to drain the abscess and receive massive doses of multiple antibiotics and then having the tumor removed. I underwent physical therapy and in 2024 developed seizures (probably because of scar tissue from the surgery) but they are under control now. I continue to receive oral chemotherapy daily for the GIST but hope that within a year or so I will be able to stop taking that. Carol retired in late 2023 (multi-state director of hospice services for Advocate Aurora Health Care). I still have a love for fast (and loud) cars and continue to work on my 1962 Buick Invicta with a 445 Wild Cat engine and our 1986 Corvette. I love to go biking and do that with classmates (usually weekly when weather permits) and Carol and I enjoy spending time with family and friends and biking too. Prior to my surgery we would ride our standard bikes 15-25 miles per day but that has become more challenging for me after my illness and we both enjoy the boost an e-bike gives us on long rides now. We recently bought a winter home in North Fort Myers Florida and look forward to many more adventures in the future. You may not recognize me as I have an autoimmune disorder which has resulted in my being bald but if you see a bald guy with a big smile, it is probably me!