Conrad Johnson

BIOGRAPHY

Conrad Johnson was born in Kymbo, Västra Götaland, Sweden, on 19 January 1904. His parents were Oskar Natanael Jansson (1869–1947) and Ida Maria Antoinetta Gahnström (1873–1967). Conrad’s father emigrated to the United States in 1889 and settled in Chicago. There he met his future wife, and they married in 1896. On the advice of a doctor, who warned that he could not tolerate Chicago’s cold and damp climate, he decided to return home. Their first child, Arthur, was born in Chicago in 1897. Shortly afterward, the young family moved back and took over the family farm, Hulegården, in Kymbo, where the rest of their nine children were born, the youngest being Fritz Olof in 1915.

In the early 1920s, Conrad immigrated to America by boat. At first, he dreamed of becoming a pastry chef, but his journey took a different path. He began with two months of factory work before being given the chance to try carpentry. Though he was fired several times, he refused to give up. Determined to master the trade, he persevered, and in time he became highly skilled and successful. Eventually, he founded his own remodeling business, which kept him very much in demand.

He worked closely with a local lumber company that allowed him to use their equipment free of charge. Most of his carpentry was done by hand, with the exception of an electric saw. After several years in the remodeling business, Conrad shifted his focus to cabinetmaking. The work proved more profitable, though he continued to do most of it himself. His brothers Art and Ivan eventually left their family’s farm in Sweden to follow Conrad to the United States.

He was married twice: his first wife passed away in 1988, and his second in 2002. He had no children.

Johnson credited his longevity to eating a bowl of oatmeal every morning and staying physically active. He frequently traveled to his native Sweden and even visited Israel once. A devoted member of the Svea Soner Chorus, he also had a great love for dancing.

Conrad Johnson passed away in Rockford, Illinois, on 23 December 2014, at the age of 110 years, 338 days.

RECOGNITION

On 8 June 2014, following the passing of Alexander Imich, he became the oldest known living man in the United States. Upon his own passing, he was succeeded by Alexander Grant.

Johnson’s age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg and Steven Filoso, and was validated by the ESO on 24 January 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* Conrad Johnson (Jansson) – Geni

* “Conrad Johnson Keeps on Walking” – City of Rockford Newsletter, 2009

* “Rockford resident, Illinois’ oldest man dies” – Rockford Register Star, 23 December 2014

* “Conrad Johnson, oldest man in the U.S., remembered by North Brunswick nephew” – nj.com, 29 December 2014

* Conrad Johnson 1904-2014 – tagesdotter.wordpress.com, 19 January 2015

GALLERY

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