Corbett Johnson
May 13, 1945 ~ November 12, 2023
Age 78 of Forest Lake. Loving Husband, Father, Brother, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2023.
Preceded in death by parents, Don & Phyllis; infant brother. Survived by wife, Lynn; son, Drew; brothers, Dana (Mikki), Robin (Mary); many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends. Corbett was a lifelong resident of Forest Lake. He was an avid supporter of Forest Lake baseball and conceived the plan to build the grandstand at Schumacher field. Corbett was a longtime realtor, and served in the Forest Lake Jaycees and Rotary. Over the last 2.5 years Corbett resided at Birchwood Senior Living; the convenience of the location gave him the opportunity to travel, via wheelchair, to favorite locations within his beloved Forest Lake: Reubs, Coffeesmith, American Legion, Mallards to name a few. Thank you to Birchwood for the friendships he made with staff and residents while living there.
A celebration of Corbett’s life 1-4 PM Sunday, December 3rd at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. Interment at Scandinavian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family.
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Corbett was friends with my father Keith Turnquist at Birchwood. They would watch The Vikings games together and when my father passed Corbett sat with him and held his hand. Corbett was my favorite at Birchwood. I will always remember him and his kindness he showed my father. May God Bless his family
Cobettt was a big supporter of baseball in the forest lake area and is in the forest lake hall of fame. Corbett was the mainly responsible for getting schumacher field made in to such a great place for baseball. He will be rememberrd as great civic leadet and realtor.
I remember working with Corbett at the paper distribution in Wyoming. He sure loved wearing his hats and driving his little fast sports car. Such a wonderful gentleman to get to know. You will be missed by everyone in the community.
Many memories of Corbet Jaycees projects were many!! He spoke his mind ! Sorry to hear! Loved a good life many accomplishments!
So glad I had the opportunity to see and speak with him at the American Legion a week ago. Corbett was always good for an interesting conversation. A wealth of knowledge is now lost. Good bye old friend.
Ken DuFresne
Corbett would come into Coffeesmith for his morning coffee and whenever my kids and I were there he would be so kind and full of conversation. He was quickly my kids favorite and a good friend.
Episodic memories: Don’s father, Don Sr. was a delivery milk man in FL. My stepfather, Frank, nicknamed him Milkman Johnson, an allusion to Dictionary Johnson, compiler of the first English language dictionary in 1750. Phyllis, Don’s mother, was active in a popular mother’s club that met one long night of each month, the EAFIA Club, acronym for Evening Away From It All. Don, aka Corbet, was always a positive presence during our FL school years. He and Rodney Erickson restored a model T Ford clandestinely in a shed behind the old FL library. In 1965 he, Rodney, and I ventured out for a night of “trolling and gigging” in the south Minneapolis senior beverage district. We drove slowly back to FL without a catch. Ed Grund taught a great senior civics class in which Don excelled. Ed, an educational pioneer of sorts, tried a grading system called “contract grading.” Students could contract for a grade of A, or B, or C based on specific reading lists. Don contracted for an A; therefore, he had to read Plato’s Republic, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and the Federalist Papers of Monroe, Hamilton, and Hay. Too revolutionary for yours truly, I followed the traditional way despite Don’s encouragement. I think we both “earned” A’s. Don was a top student in a very select two year course named World History I and II taught by Rollie Nelson. Don was on top of current events, the first part of each class. Fond memories, Don. A classmate and Forest Laker, Jim Yale
Corbett’s parents, Phyllis & Don, were my God Parents and I always considered “Donnie,” Dana, and “Robbie” to be my brothers. (Phyllis drove my mom to Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul from Forest Lake when I was born!)
I loved watching Don and Dana play in all the Lakers games, and our family attended every one, including the away games. (Rob was the bat boy until he was old enough to play.) As a little kid watching my “brothers” play excellent baseball, I was always proud, and attending the games was an exciting experience.
When Donnie married and started using his middle name, it took a while for me to get used to the change, as I’m sure it did for many!
As members of the Forest Lake Jaycees, we worked together on many great projects, but the annual Haunted House fundraiser was always the best. The hours we all spent preparing the site, (whether it was the old electric building next to the Times office downtown, a vacant space in Northland Mall, or a condemned old house near Beltz Park), and then the craziness of putting on make-up and costumes in acting as the inhabitants of the place for the week of Halloween, it all made for some memorable and fun experiences! (The last JCs Haunted House was in 1985, and I don’t think Forest Lake Halloweens have ever been quite so fun since.)
As time has marched on, I’d see Corbett less-frequently, but when our paths did cross at places like Reub’s Tire, Faith Lutheran Church, and all too often, at a funeral or visitation, our brother-like relationship would pick up right where it left off.
At my mother Mercedes’ funeral in July of 2019, Corbett told me something I never knew before: that his Mom and mine had started a private kindergarten pre-school in Forest Lake in the mid-1950s since the local public school district did not have one. Our mothers operated it for many years until other pre-schools came along. (The school district didn’t offer Kindergarten until the late 1960s or early 70s!)
I will miss my encounters with Corbett. He was a great fellow and he will be long-remembered! Merrie and I extend our sincerest sympathies to Dana and Rob and all of Corbett’s loved ones, and regret that will not be able to attend the memorial service. Rest in peace, “brother Donnie.”
Corbett was a community leader and long time realtor in forest lake and lead the construction of schumaker field. He will be missed by all friends and relatives.
Great Uncle Corbett with Dana’s Grandkids and Number one son Daryn. July 2022.
Community leader and realtor for many years and lead the effort to make schumacher field a great place to play baseball.
Had the honor of being coached in baseball by Corbett as a kid. He was old school, but we embraced it. He insisted we wear stirrups, as ‘that’s what ball players wear’. And made sure the infielders were constantly encouraging the pitcher…any silence between pitches would lead to Corbett barking out ‘lotta chatter now gang.’ He was a great role model, a wealth of knowledge, and a truly interesting man. He will be missed
Corbett was my broker for many years. He was a boss full of ideas and dreams. He wasn’t always cool headed but he was always interesting. He was very generous with his employees and contributed immensely to all the Century 21 gatherings and honor awards. I am sorry such a great community leader and friend is gone. .Beverly Cameron
Lynn, Drew and family,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Wayne and Julie Benting
Had a long and successful real estate business