Commissioner Jim Johnson will be remembered for his thoughtful and considerate leadership. The former commissioner spoke at the Cook County courthouse 100th anniversary celebration on September 21, 2012.
At the end of December, as Jim Johnson finished his term as county commissioner, he sent out an e-mail to his constituents and friends, as he did on a regular basis during his time in office. Instead of an update, it was a farewell that included the sad news that Johnson’s cancer had returned. Johnson wrote that he didn’t know how much time he had left and unfortunately it turned out that his time was brief. Commissioner Johnson died on Monday, January 21. The community is mourning the loss of the warm and friendly man who never strayed far from his Cook County roots.
Johnson grew up in Cook County and was a member of Cook County High School Class of 1962. He left the county for college, graduating from St. Olaf College with a bachelor of arts in biology in 1966 and Northwestern University with a master of arts in teaching in 1967. He taught school in St. Louis Park, MN for a decade before returning to the North Shore. When he first ran for county commissioner in 2004, facing three other candidates in the primary, he explained, “Collectively I have lived here for 44 years.”
In a subsequent election interview, Johnson was asked about his family. Johnson replied that he was married to Beverly Olsen-Johnson and spoke of his pride in his children and grandchildren. He added, “Bev and I are proud of our Cook County roots and would like to continue to make this a great place to live for generations to come.”
Before he served on the county board, most people knew Johnson as a member of the Johnson’s Foods family. He co-owned and operated the grocery store from 1977 until 2002, always smiling in the aisles, ready to help find an item or carry out groceries. After selling his interest in the store, he worked for a while as a real estate appraisal before winning that 2004 election and becoming county commissioner, a job he greatly enjoyed, despite some growing pains.
In his last note to his commissioner district 4 constituents, Johnson said he had learned a great deal in his eight years of service to the community. He spoke of the importance of local government and expressed hope that the county was entering a new phase of cooperation with other governmental entities. He took the position seriously and even as his health was failing, he shared the wisdom he had gained, writing: “I have learned that most people are good. If they have a concern or a complaint, then it is something we need to work on. I have also learned that there are lots of people within the county government that are experts at getting things done in their own fields of expertise and that to jump into the middle of something that I don’t really understand is not usually a wise thing to do. It took me awhile to learn that one.”
County Commissioner Sue Hakes spoke for many when she wrote on her Commissioner District 3 blog: “Jim was the epitome of ‘nice guy’ and a friend to so many. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from his wisdom and from the example he set.”
Johnson will be missed not only by his county board colleagues and county staff, but by the many others he touched in the community—as an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a musician in the Cook County Community Band or playing Taps at veterans services, as a supporter of the fledgling Chik Wauk Museum or any number of volunteer activities. This reporter will always fondly remember Johnson in his ubiquitous Scandinavian sweater as the speaker at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Julefest, extolling the virtue of lutefisk.
At press time on Thursday, January 24, a memorial service was being held for Jim Johnson. The community gathered to share its memories of Jim Johnson, the man who worked so hard to make Cook County a great place to live for generations to come. He will be missed.
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