This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Johnston, Chamberlain, Andrews, Comstock, Egbert, Brolsma, Gifford, Bailes, Talmage, Laatsch, Goebel, Post, Dolan, Paulson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3FC.2ACI/3796 Message Board Post: J. Thomas “Tom” Johnston, 81 Friday, November 05, 2004 J. Thomas “Tom” Johnston, 81, a native of Hudson and founder of Marine Associates, died Sunday, Oct. 24, while vacationing in Budapest, Hungary. He was born Nov. 14, 1922, in Hudson, the son of Thomas W. and Alma Lydia (Johnston) Johnston. Through his mother, he was connected to some of the earliest settlers in Hudson including the Chamberlain and Andrews families. His grand uncle, John Comstock, was founder of the First National Bank of Hudson in 1863. He attended Hudson schools and graduated from Hudson High School in the class of 1941. He attended Perry Institute in Yakima, Wash., for aviation and electrical engineering. On Nov. 18, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in St. Paul and trained in Camp Farragut, Idaho and Banana River, Fla. He flew PBX and PBMs as a flight engineer and saw duty in the Pacific Theatre and Tokyo, Japan. For his outstanding achievement in combat against the enemy, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, a second Air Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Aircrew Insignia. He was honorably discharged Jan. 18, 1946, in Minneapolis. On June 14, 1947, he married Vivian Lucille Egbert at the old (1875) Hudson Methodist Church located on Third and Elm streets in Hudson. The bride was the daughter of the late Miner R. and Dena (Brolsma) Egbert of Hudson. In 1949, the Johnstons moved to Rapid City, S.D., where they founded, with Lowell Gifford, the Gifford and Johnston Electrical Wholesale firm. This innovative business helped place electricity to many rural communities in South Dakota and aided the engineering and electrification at world-renowned Mount Rushmore and the Passion Play at Spearfish, S.D. After 17 years, in August 1965, they sold their interest in the business and returned to Hudson. At that time they founded Marine Associates, which grew into a successful marine enterprise. The company was always on the cutting edge of the market with its 4-inch to 6-foot propellers, holding tanks and boating accessories. Today, the business continues to enlarge as a marine and gear manufacturing plant. Johnston had an inventive mind. If he didn’t understand how something worked, he would study it until he did. In high school, he built his first boat and later designed and invented holding tanks for boats. At one point during his career, the Boundary Waters Commission sought his expertise with a stubborn sewage problem it encountered. Early on, when he was traveling to meet customers, he enjoyed flying his own Cessna airplane to remote cities, and sometimes he would even taxi down main streets. When he sold his airplane, he bought and operated one of the nation’s first registered hot air balloons. He was a member of the Shriners and local Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. He also was an avid railroad buff who marveled at a steam engine and was a member of the Railroad Speeders club and an active member of the Hudson Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts and the Hudson United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee. Both he and his wife traveled extensively to more than 50 countries throughout the world. He also loved working around the home, maintaining their lawn or working in his shop welding or woodworking. Boating on the St. Croix was another of his great interests with fixing props and making gears. Surviving are his wife, Vivian Johnston of Hudson; a son, Mark Thomas (Ruth Irene) Johnston of Hudson; two daughters, Dena Lynn (Robert) Bailes of Social Circle, Ga., and Margaret Ellen “Peg” Talmage of Charleston, S.C.; five grandchildren, Matthew, Andrew and Joanna Johnston, and Jacob and Vidhata Talmage; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Johnston of Baton Rouge, La., and Barbara Laatsch. Preceding him death were his parents and his brother, George W. Johnson in 1986. Funeral services are 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Hudson United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Joan Goebel officiating. Organist Mary Post will accompany congregational singing and vocal soloist Adele Dolan at the service. Burial, with full military honors provided by the Hudson VFW Post. No. 2115, will be in the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson. Visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson and one hour prior to the service at the church Thursday. A Masonic service was conducted at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home by Henry J. Paulson, potentate of the Osman Shrine Lodge of St. Paul, presiding. Memorials are preferred to the Hudson United Methodist Church or the Christian Community Home in Hudson. © 2004 Hudson Star-Observer - Reposted by permission http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=12146&SectionID=3&SubSectionID=54&S=1