Chris Ryan Johnson, 60, of Hudson, Wisconsin, suffered a heart attack and passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2023 at The Den in downtown Clarksdale.
Chris was born to Ronald Vern Johnson and Sylvia Joanne Larsen Johnson on Feb. 24, 1963 in Jackson, Minn. He attended Jackson High School and graduated from St. Olaf College with degrees in mathematics and economics. Chris went onto work as CFO of Fritzie Fresh Candy Company, manage and promote many bands, establish his own music festival, as well as own and operate his restaurant the Bayport BBQ.
In his “retirement” he sorted through his collection of 75,000 records for his online record store.
He married his wife, Kristen Pate Johnson, on Sept. 30, 1994, in St. Paul, Minn., and is survived by her and their three children, Jack Ryan, Elizabeth Laura and Sam Pate, as well as his mother and four older siblings, Mark Ronald Johnson, Peter Randal Johnson, Lynn Renee Carlson, and Paul Robert Johnson.
Chris enjoyed traveling with his family, eating foods from every cuisine, attending concerts and music festivals and is well known as a champion for the Deep Blues community.
He will be remembered for his quiet compassion, his strong sense of justice, his love for his wife, children, and community and living by his own rules.
A casual memorial service will be held at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis on Sunday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.
In place of flowers, an angel fund has been created for Clarksdale, a community Chris held close to his heart, and donations can be made through Heaven’s to Betsy via this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DTESZUAMP2LTS
