Dwayne Dee Johansen
October 18, 1931 ~ January 5, 2014
Dwayne D. Johansen, 82, Corson, died Sunday, January 5, 2014, at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.
Memorial services will begin at 1:00 PM, Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Seventh Day Adventist Church on E. 26th St. followed by Full Military Honors. Visitation will begin at Noon.
Dwayne Johansen was born October 18, 1931 to Walter and Mae (Jansen) Johansen in Woonsocket, SD. He attended school there until he quit to join the Army and headed to Korea. When he returned, he married Shirley Sorenson in Mitchell SD. The couple had four children. Dwayne worked for Mitchell concrete. He eventually started at Sioux Steel in Sioux Falls and he relocated there. Dwayne was then working for John Morrell in the Sheep Kill. He retired after 33 years. He married Carolyn Ness on September 11, 1994 in Sioux Falls.
Dwayne had a huge hobby for model airplanes, trains, and cars. His collection of these covers every room at his home. He loved to build them from the ground up, paint them, and then fly his planes. His family has many memories of these expeditions. Along with modeling, Dwayne loved to draw and even went to art school for a short time. Vegetable gardening was another pastime for Dwayne and Carolyn with his 60 x 140 ft. patch. Dwayne could always be found on one of his scooters or cycles. His favorite was his 1947 Indian, Chief. Dwayne will long be remembered for his musical talents as he and Carolyn played the nursing home circuit around Sioux Falls area in the Bert Jones Band for over 15 years. His talents on the mandolin, banjo and harmonica brought smiles to many folks as they reminisced of the old county sounds the group played. Dwayne will be missed by his many friends in the Corson and Brandon area and the Brandon VFW.
Dwayne is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children and step-children, Jim, Worthing, Terry, Garrettson, Paula (Tony) Johansen-Mooney, Decatur, TX, Joe, Sioux Falls, Jason (Heather) Ness, Jessica Ness, and Janetta Ness, all of Sioux Falls; eleven grandchildren, Connor, Devin, Jennifer, Samatha, Gwen, Jarod, Zack, Cory, Nikki, Justin, and Megan; two step-grandchildren, Kayley and Norah; and nine great-grandchildren; and one sister, Velores (Glen) Youngstrom, Mitchell.
Dwayne was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ronald.
I am so sorry for your loss. I used to work up at the Brandin’ Iron Cafe where Dwayne was a regular. I always enjoyed talking to him. He had a heart of gold. He will be greatly missed.