Gordon 'Gordy' Larry Johnson

Gordon “Gordy” Larry Johnson, 81, of Longboat Key and Brainerd, Minn., died Oct. 17.

Born Jan. 12, 1935, in Norfolk, Neb., Mr. Johnson received a basketball scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder. There he fell in love with Mary Lou, whom he married in 1958. He joined Kappa Sigma, earned his bachelor’s degree in 1957 and was a proud member of the 1956 University of Colorado basketball team that went to the Final Four Championship.

In 1958, Mr. Johnson became a regular commissioned officer as a lieutenant and pilot in the Air Force. He rose to the rank of captain in 1963.

Mr. Johnson’s business career began in 1963, after he completed Travelers Insurance School. The Johnsons moved to Edina, Minn., where Mr. Johnson started his own insurance business, Valley View Insurance, specializing in commercial, casualty, property, life and health insurance.

Mr. Johnson received advanced training and earned his chartered property casualty underwriter (CPCU) and certified financial consultant (CFC) certifications. His motto was, “No account is too large to handle.”
Mr. Johnson enjoyed family, friends, tennis, golf, fishing and boating. He and Mrs. Johnson loved yearly travels to France and Italy, where they shopped for antiques.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; daughters Jacque Fryklund and Debra Booden; son, Jeff Johnson; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services are planned for Jan. 12 in Sarasota and for the spring in Brainerd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org, or to the charity of one’s choice.