James “Jim” Johnson

James “Jim” Johnson, 80, died on March 28, 2025, after living with Alzheimer’s for many years. He was born on April 2, 1944 in Chicago to May and Charley Johnson. The Johnsons owned and operated Timber Point Lodge on High Lake in Land O’ Lakes for 20 years. When his parents sold off the cabins in 1969, the cabins stayed in the family. Jim and his family, his sisters and their families continued to enjoy the precious Northwoods. Jim was well-known as a longtime newsman for WLS Radio in Chicago. Listeners loved his quick wit, his skilled reporting, and his numerous tales about life Up North, dubbed “Jim’s Wisconsin Stories.” He worked with many disc jockeys and talk radio hosts over a span of 45 years. When Jim was Up North, he could be found boating, water skiing, golfing, biking and kayaking. As a teenager, he helped found the Boulder Muskies Water Ski Team which performed for several years on Trout Lake in Boulder Junction. Jim was their star bare-foot skier. Later, he was an avid supporter of the Chain Skimmers Water Ski Team, where his daughter performed for 13 years. Jim donated his father’s diaries, which chronicled the history of Timber Point Lodge and Land O’ Lakes, to the Land O’ Lakes Historical Society. Jim was a loving husband to Denise (Davlantes) Johnson, and devoted father to Alexis (Johnson) Del Cid. He is also survived by his sister, Rosalie (Johnson) Davies, sister-in-law Nancy Davlantes, brother-in-law Glenn Quasius, son-in-law Salvador Del Cid, his beloved grandson Kingston Del Cid and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Elaine (Johnson) Quasius.

Those who knew Jim may make memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association at https:/www.alz.org.