Charles W. Johnston, 78, Plover, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at his home while under the care of Ministry Home Care-Hospice Services, following a two-year battle with cancer.
A time to gather and share memories will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Plover Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The Shuda-Plover Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.shudafuneral.com.
Mr. Johnston was born Feb. 2, 1934, in Tomahawk, a son of the late Erava and Ruth (Martell) Karau.
After schooling, he entered the U.S. Army on Feb. 6, 1951, in Milwaukee. He served his country as a private and earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 5, 1954.
Upon his return, he worked for the Larkee Family Amusement Shows throughout Wisconsin.
He was married to Barbara Liebe on Feb. 3, 1962, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Stevens Point.
The couple settled in Merrill where he worked as a woodworking laborer. They moved to Stevens Point in 1964, and he began his career at Vetter Manufacturing. When Vetter closed, he went on to work at the Port Edwards and Nekoosa paper mills until his retirement in 1991.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Shelly House, Christine Stremkowski, Wendy Johnston and Jodi (Lawrence) Barrington; three brothers, James “JK,” Texas, Erava (Margareta) Karau, Merrill and Michael John Karau; one sister, Sandy Kozelka, Prairie du Chien; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Berry Karau.
