Alfred Johnson

Alfred Johnson (Al/Fred/Dad/Morfar), 86, of Madison, died in peace at his home on Friday, January 10, 2025, following ongoing health issues. 

Alfred was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 20, 1938. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1958 to 1960 as a Specialist E-4. Alfred worked for 9 years at the Illinois State Bank of Chicago, overlooking Grant Park. He vividly recalled the anti-war demonstrations in the park during the 1968 Democratic Convention. During his daily lunch breaks in Grant Park, Alfred became a lifelong birder. His favorite birds were the abundant and friendly warblers. In Madison, Alfred worked as a loan officer at First Federal Bank, then at IDL Mortgage, and retired from Anchor Bank after 38 years in the lending industry. During this time, Alfred was the president of the Optimist Club and was a lifelong optimist. 

Alfred is survived by his ex-wife, Karolina Johnson, daughter, Ingrid (Hannu) Andersson, son, Karl Johnson, and grandson, Kai Andersson, as well as his brother, David (Nancy) Johnson, half-brother Ray Johnson and their families, along with the family of his late sister. Alfred was preceded in death by his father, Gunnar Johnson, a Swedish immigrant, his mother, Marion Johnson, step-mother, Olivia Johnson, and sister, Alice (Don) Engerer. 

A private celebration of life will take place in March.

Alfred’s favorite charitable organizations included the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Women’s Medical Fund, both founded by the late Anne Nicole Gaylor in Madison. Another favorite organization was Doctors Without Borders. 

Alfred will be united with the earth in Forest Hill Cemetery, near sacred effigy mounds and the resting places of fellow veterans. 

The above obituary was composed by Alfred in the days before his death. We miss our courageous, generous, and beloved father and morfar terribly. He will live with us always in our hearts and minds, as well as in countless other ways, great and small. https://deathwithdignity.org/

Please share your memories of Alfred here on his tribute wall.

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