Robert J. Johnson loved to fish so much, that one year he gave his wife a fishing boat, motor and trailer for Mother’s Day. Ironically, she didn’t even like to fish. “Bob,” the family relayed, “had a great sense of humor; always.” Cherished memories for a family that has had to endure unthinkable grief during the current COVID-19 crisis.
At 97 years old, Johnson, who was originally from St. Cloud, was living in an assisted living facility in Stearns County. According to family he was in relatively decent health for his age and until recently, was using a walker to get around.
Johnson had been hospitalized from March 6 to 13 and was being treated for a foot infection and pneumonia. The family reported that doctors had ordered registered nurse, physical therapist and occupational therapist visits which were to begin on March 16 and continue for four to six weeks. He had a routine lab visit at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud on March 17, at which time nebulizer treatments had been ordered. Per the family, the assisted living facility denied access to the PT, OT, and RN caregivers due to COVID-19 precautions. Without these therapies, the family says his health diminished. The foot infection resulted in Johnson being confined to a wheelchair since returning from the hospital.
His daughter, Janet Johnson, and Dan Hinrichs have a home on Somers Lake near Maple Lake. She and Dan visited him frequently and had just taken him to the VA Medical Center on March 24 for routine lab work.
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