R.I.P. Neil Neddermeyer, 'Cinosam' Author and PGM of Minnesota

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATED 6:50PM November 7, 2024: The Minneapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite has posted a tribute to Illustrious Brother Neddermeyer 33°. It is posted below.


UPDATED 11:05PM November 4, 2024: RW Brother Neil's obituary appeared in the November 3rd, 2024 issue of the Minnesota Star Tribune. It is posted below.

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I'm afraid the world is just a little bit darker now.

Word has come from Minnesota that RWB Neil Neddermeyer, PGM 2003-04, passed to the Celestial Lodge on Saturday, October 26th. 

You would be hard pressed to find a man anywhere who embodied all the principles and features of a Freemason as much as Neil Neddermeyer. He was alternately brilliant, funny, compassionate, empathetic, a wise sage when it was called for, or just a deeply involved listener when that was needed more. He could teach a complex lesson with a simple anecdote or parable perhaps better than anyone I've ever known. And the quite literally thousands of lives he's touched over the years stand as living examples of his influence.

Back in the Stone Age of the Interwebs when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, one of the first regular purveyors of Masonic online content was Minnesota's Neil Neddermeyer. Starting in the late 1990s, his emails — entitled Cinosam (spell it backwards) — appeared in e-mail in-boxes every week with tips, leadership ideas, trivia, quotes, prayers, jokes, and inspirations, long before there were Masonic podcasts, blogs, forums, or much of anything else online. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, you can see the archives of his mailings HERE. He created almost 300 of them.

He served as Grand Master of Minnesota in 2003-04, and we first met when I was invited to talk at their annual session in 2006. It was the first grand lodge I ever spoke to about my book Freemasons For Dummies. Neil was one of the earliest and loudest supporters and promoters of the book for new members, and I found out he was instrumental in inviting me to their session. He was always an outspoken proponent of grand lodges concentrating on Masonic education, and he served for a time as president of the Masonic Renewal Committee of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America. 

As one good friend put it, "Neil was a patron of Masonic Education back when many saw educators as the boring nerds who will kill our club." They weren't; they didn't; and Neil was right all along.

Back in 2010 we both gave presentations at the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference, along with Art DeHoyos and Rex Hutchens. Neil gave a great talk about how we present Masonry to our members, with entertainingly practical applications to real-life situations. Instead of debunking our legends, Neil stressed the importance of using them for teaching Masons, because "the Truth is in the parable." In an allegory about the fraternity, he told the story of Heinz ketchup and how they wrestled for decades with the problem of getting their slow-moving sauce out of its troublesome bottle. Company advisors wanted to water down the product, compromising the quality. But it wasn't a problem with the product; it was just a bad delivery system. The real answer was to think differently about the bottle itself, not change the ketchup. Likewise, there is no problem with Freemasonry itself; it's the way Masons sometimes present it, or treat it like a repetitive habit, or fall into ruts with our meetings or our administrative style. 

Don't water down Freemasonry; fix its delivery system. 

Before Freemasonry became so engrossing to him, Neil spent 20 years as a police detective, which is perhaps what gave him such a firm grip on the handlebars of life and on the best way to navigate the obstacles. About 10 years ago, he even started an online support group for alcoholic or drug-dependant Freemasons called Masonic and Tonic.

According to his wife Julie Ottis, a Celebration of Neil's Life will be held this coming Saturday, November 9th at Masonic Heritage Lodge, 11501 Masonic Heritage Drive, in the the Minnesota Masonic Home & Heritage Center. Visitation at 9, Masonic service at 10, and funeral service at 11, followed by lunch.

I haven't seen an obituary yet, but I will post it as soon as I spot it.

UPDATE: RW Brother Neil's obituary appeared in the November 3rd, 2024 issue of the Minnesota Star Tribune:

Neil Ernest Neddermeyer, age 78, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2024. Neil was born May 28, 1946, to Francis ("Bud") and Marguerite (fka Sawyer) Neddermeyer in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in Long Lake and graduated from Orono High School. Neil displayed his musical aptitude playing drums in Orono Junior High School and was recruited in seventh grade to play in the Orono High School marching band which he continued until graduation. Neil recalled that he and another percussionist entered the Minnesota All-State High School music contest as high school juniors; they placed second with their snare drum duet. He earned his college tuition by playing in various dance bands on weekends.

Neil was a member of the Evergreen Club of the Twin Cities, an organization comprised of active members in the music community with over 20 years of experience. He was also a member of the professional musicians' union. Neil joined the Hennepin County Sheriff's Marching Band and, along with his father, played drums for many years in summer parades. He was a member of the Zuhrah Shrine Fraternal Organization and participated in their Drum and Bugle Corp Marching Band first as a drummer and later as the drum major. He was the last original member of the Zuhrah Shrine Merrymakers, a vaudeville-style troupe providing entertainment for children of all ages.

Neil was active in the Masonic fraternal organization throughout his life and began his 57-year Masonic journey in 1967, following his father's and grandfather's footsteps into the fraternity. He served as Past Master of Wayzata Masonic Lodge #205 several times and was active in Masonic education. In 2003 he was honored to be elected as the Grand Master of Masons of Minnesota. Neil was also a 33rd Degree Mason.

He proudly served as a Hennepin County Deputy Sheriff for 30 years in homicide and crimes against children. Neil was also known as a poet with several published works, including "The Old Master's Wages".

Neil was a sincere and kind man and always quick with a quip or a limerick or a song lyric. His humor and his personality lit up any room. He was a charismatic leader. Neil lived and died on his own terms. He will be missed. He was a character with character.

Neil is survived by his wife Julie Ottis; his daughter Nicoletta (Greg) Thompson, and his grandchildren, Ike and Marlowe; as well as his nephews and their children, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Gene, and his sister Karen Rath.

In lieu of memorials, please send donations to the Invisible Wounds Project; the Help, Aid and Assist Fund of donor's local lodge; or the charity of donor's choice.

The Celebration of Neil's life will be held Saturday November 9, 2024, at the Masonic Home located at 11501 Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington, MN 55437. Please enter by the Dan Patch Hall entrance. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed at 10:00 a.m. by a Masonic service, and a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow. Everyone is welcome to attend. www.davidleefuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family of Neil Ernest Neddermeyer, please visit Tribute Store.

UPDATE Thursday, November 7, 2024: The Minneapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite has also posted its own notice:

 Ill. Neil Neddermeyer 33°, Inspector General Honorary, passed to the Celestial Lodge on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Illustrious Neil was born in Minneapolis on May 28, 1946, and following his father and grandfather into our Fraternity was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master in Wayzata Lodge 205 in November 1967. He joined our Minneapolis Valley in 1975, becoming a Master of the Royal Secret in April of that year.

Ill. Neil was invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour by our Supreme Council in October 1989 and Coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary in November 1993.


Most Worshipful Brother Neil’s service to humanity, to our community and to Masonry is the stuff of legends. Perhaps appropriately acknowledged as a Renaissance Mason, Neil was a gifted performing artist, author and a leader.

A 57 year Mason and a Life Member of his Lodge, MWB Neil served Wayzata Lodge as Master in 1980 and again in 1993. In 2003, he was elected and installed Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota. During and after his service to our Grand Lodge, MWB Neil continued his commitment to our gentle craft as Chaplain and Lodge Education Officer at Wayzata and a Board Member of Minnesota Masonic Charities.

Ill. Neil was a Life Member of our Minneapolis Valley and served as the Commander of Kadosh from 1990 to 1992. He was active in many Zuhrah Shrine units.

The hallways and corridors of our Masonic Buildings and the pathways of life will be forever illuminated by the Light MWB Neil carried in our gentle craft.

Neil's life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Masonic Home in Bloomington. Visitors are asked to enter by the Dan Patch Hall entrance. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed at 10:00 a.m. with a Masonic service and a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the services.

The official obit mentioned Neil's poetry. He wrote two poignant Masonic poems that became widely reprinted over the years – dare I call, them modern Masonic classics — and I'll end this post with both of them:

Perhaps He's Dead by Neil Neddermeyer

I was playing with the Shriner's band,
In a small town, hot parade.
We had stopped to drink a thank you,
For the tunes that we had played.

A hand was placed upon my back
By a women with a crutch.
As I turned I saw a pretty face,
And a smile came with that touch.

She told about a tear that came
When she saw the Shriner's band
and how she remembered one Shriner
Who had helped her once to stand.

I was in the Shriner's Hospital,
I was frightened - I was low
When an old man in a silly red hat
Showed that he loved me so.

He visited me every Sunday,
For possibly two years.
He shared my pain and laughter,
My joys, my thoughts, my tears.

He must be in his nineties now...
Well no, perhaps he's dead.
But he came to my wedding to watch me stand
The day that I was wed.

I meant to keep in contact
With him for all my life
But I'm too busy being a mother,
And too busy being a wife.

I just wanted to stop and thank you,

For the things that he had done

To make my life more meaningful,

To give my life some fun.

I watched her hobble off
As I stepped from the band.
I saw her husband and her kids,
And the crutch in her right hand.

I felt guilty for taking credit
For the Shriner who was strong but mild.
He knew no man stands straighter
Than when he stoops to help a child.

I thought, some forty years from now,
When a Shriner takes a bow,
Will he be thanked for something
That I am doing now?

Will they say that I was noble,
That my silly hat was red?
Will they say 'He's in his nineties now,
Well no, perhaps he's dead.

 

THE OLD MASTERS WAGES by Neil Neddermeyer

I met a dear old man today
Who wore a Masonic pin.
It was old and faded like the man,
It's edges worn and thin.

I approached the park bench where he sat,
To give the old brother his due.
I said "I see you've traveled East",
He said, "I have, have you?"

I said, I have, and in my day,
Before the all-seeing sun,
I played in the rubble
With Jubala, Jubelo, and Jubalum.

He said, don't laugh at the work my son
It's good and sweet and true...
And if you've traveled as you said
You should give these things their due.

The word, the sign, the token,
The sweet Masonic prayer.
The vow that you have taken.
You have climbed the inner stair.

The wages of a Mason
Are never paid in gold,
But the gain comes from contentment
When you're weak and growing old.

You see, I've carried my obligations
For almost 50 years.
It has helped me through the hardships
And the failures full of tears...

Now I'm losing my mind and body
Death is near, but I don't despair.
I've lived my life upon the level,
And I'm dying on the square.

Sometimes the greatest lessons
Are those that are learned anew,
And the old man in the park today
Has changed my point of view.

To all my Masonic brothers,
The only secret is to care.
May you live upon the level,
And part upon the square.

His column is broken, and his Brethren mourn. Rest in peace, my dear, dear friend.

Partnership of Grand Lodges Purchase Grand View Systems

ByChristopher Hodapp

Grand View Systems, creators of one of the most popular membership management systems designed especially for Masonic organizations, has just been acquired by a joint partnership of grand lodges in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, and North Carolina.

From the press release:

Dear Valued Grand View Users,

We’re thrilled to announce that Grand View, your trusted membership management software system, has been purchased by a partnership of four Grand Lodges: the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Lodge of North Carolina, Grand Lodge of California, and Grand Lodge of Minnesota. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in the Grand View journey, and we are excited about the future prospects it brings.

Our vision for Grand View is that it’s owned by the fraternity, ensuring that its mission aligns closely with the values and needs of Masonic organizations. We are delighted to inform you that Brother Jeff Clarke will continue to lead Grand View, and all of its dedicated staff will remain in place, ensuring continuity and stability for our users. Jeff and his team will continue to be your main point of contact.

As we look to the future, Grand View’s immediate goals are to assess and enhance its capabilities to onboard new Masonic organizations seamlessly while continuing to provide robust support to its existing users. Your satisfaction and success are our and Grand View’s top priorities, and we and the Grand View team are committed to making Grand View an even more powerful tool for your membership management needs.

We are also eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Users Conference, where Jeff will share more detailed plans and ideas. This will be a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from you about how we can all work together most effectively moving forward. Additionally, we’ll discuss how other Grand Lodges and Masonic organizations can join the ownership group in the future, expanding our collaborative efforts.

Thank you for your continued trust and support in Grand View. We are excited about this new chapter and are confident that under its new ownership, Grand View will achieve great things.

 

Midwest Conference on Masonic Education May 3-5, 2024 in Minnesota

by Christopher Hodapp

This year's Midwest Conference on Masonic Education will be held May 3-5, 2024 in Bloomington, Minnesota in and around the Masonic Heritage Center on the campus of the Minnesota Masonic Home.

Grand lodges all over the world have long realized the crying need to impart Masonic knowledge to our members. It seems that everybody knows that they're supposed to be providing "Masonic education" to Freemasons. But just how to you get knowledgable Masons who know (or understand) Masonic ritual, history, customs, laws, and all the other intellectual and cultural heritage we possess in our institution the proper tools and training to convert their knowledge and expertise into digestible lessons and into the brains of eager students? The best ritualists and historians don't always make the best teachers. Well, this year's conference will help provide some tools and methods to do just that.

Keynote speaker for this annual event will be Dave Baranek, former Aerial Combat instructor at the U.S. Navy's "Top Gun" Fighter Weapons School at Pensacola. His talk will center on "educating the educators," based on his 20 years of experience of teaching young pilots how to master the complex intricacies and develop the instincts needed for flying F-14 Tomcat planes. You can't get more different subjects than teaching Freemasonry and F-14s, but the methods of educating a widely disparate group of students in arcane subject matter are essentially alike. 

In addition to Baranek's keynote, other speakers and topics will include:

• Terry Tilton, PGM - "Masonic Education – Our Challenges and Opportunities"
• WBs Eric John Erfourth and Daniel Sherry - "MWB Ben Franklin’s Educational methodology and attitudes towards Adult education"
• WB Brad Phelps - "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Masons"
• Scott Wolter – "Templars, Masons & North America"
• Also speaking will be: Nick Settich, Brad Phelps, Markus Müller and Reed Endersbe

The event hotel will be the nearby Marriott in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

For a schedule of speakers, events, vendors and how to register, visit the conference website at www.mcme1949.org

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE (from their website)

The Midwest Conference on Masonic Education was formed in 1949 at a gathering of interested Masons from Illinois (including Alphonse Cerza) and Iowa. The outcome was to continue getting together by establishing its first Annual Meeting which was held in December 1950 in Cedar Rapids IA. The organization is comprised of a loose and ever-changing collection of Masonic educators from Grand Lodge jurisdictions located in  north central States and the Canadian Province of Manitoba. 

Member jurisdictions: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba. Other participants frequently include chairs of Masonic Education as well as Grand Lodge officers. 

What We Are About

The aim of the Conference is to promote Masonic Education, in part by providing a forum for educators to gather, freely discuss Masonic issues, socialize, and learn from sharing experiences while building beneficial relationships.


In addition, the Conference initiates special projects such as collecting data on educational practices across all North American jurisdictions, as well as encouraging Masonic research and writing by individual educators.

How We Function

The Conference meets once a year, usually in late April or early May, in one of the member jurisdictions. Responsibility for conducting the Annual Meeting rotates each year, eventually being hosted by all member jurisdictions before repeating.

A typical program schedule includes presentations by well-known Masonic speakers, experiential as well as scholarly participant presentations, roundtable discussions, and jurisdiction reports. Sufficient time is also arranged to provide informal chats among attendees. For more than a half century, our participants have expressed the view that our Conference is well worth the time, effort and cost in order to gain the many benefits from attending and participating.

Minnesota Lodge Restores Historic 1857 Charter

1857 Charter of Mankato Lodge No. 12 in Minnesota
(CNHI News Service)

by Christopher Hodapp

In 1857, the just-formed Grand Lodge of Minnesota AF&AM issued a charter for that state's twelfth Masonic lodge – Mankato Lodge No. 12. The lodge was first organized in 1856, the year before statehood was granted to Minnesota. A century and a half after it was issued, Mankato Lodge has taken steps to carefully restore and preserve their original, fragile document. 

Mankato's charter (or warrant) was printed on animal skin parchment, most likely vellum, a specially treated piece of calfskin or lambskin, which was often used to create significant documents in the past. It's why academic diplomas used to be nicknamed 'sheepskins.' Vellum is an unusual material, but if it is well cared for, it can last for centuries – there are extant documents on parchment and vellum from over a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, if it's NOT well cared for, subjected to high heat, moisture or humidity, animal skin parchment and vellum can quite literally begin to pucker and shrivel up over time. 

At the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana we have received many lodge charters or Masonic degree diplomas from the early to mid-1800s made of vellum that look like badly wadded linen handkerchiefs. Rescuing them from that condition is not always successful and requires very special treatment to accomplish.

WB Mark Robbins, PM of Mankato Lodge and longtime member and officer at the Masonic Society, passed this story along to me.

From a September 19th, 2023 article in the Meadville Tribune by Edie Schmierbach:

Mark G. Robbins of the Masonic Lodge talks to paper 

conservationist Amanda Malkin about her work on Masonic 

Lodge 12’s historical document, its warrant. (CNHI News Service)

 

Current members of Lodge 12 raised concerns about the continued safety of its 1857 official approval by the then-grand master of all Masons.

“We’ve known where it was and what it was ... it’s valuable to us,” said Mark G. Robbins, a Lodge 12 former master.

He feared, however, that someone unfamiliar with the lodge’s history could accidentally throw away the tube and its contents.
Robbins was tasked with the safekeeping of the document Masons referred to as a warrant. He turned Lodge 12’s precious parchment with ink calligraphy over to a St. Peter woman who specializes in preserving works on paper.
“I found Amanda’s business, PaperLovesConservation, on the internet. I thought we would have to send the warrant off to the East Coast, but she’s local so we didn’t have to insure it or ship it,” Robbins said.

Amanda Malkin not only conserves club and organization charters similar to the local Freemasons’ document, she has the skills necessary to repair maps, art prints and watercolors works.

A professional associate of the American Institute for Conservation, Malkin founded her business in 2016. She has a master’s degree in the conservation of fine art. Before moving to Minnesota, she held positions in Washington, D.C., at a Smithsonian art gallery and a museum.

Malkin returned the warrant to Lodge 12 early Tuesday evening. Masons gathered to see the restored document and to hear her PowerPoint presentation about the process.

She had mounted the cleaned warrant on an acid-free background, then placed the document in a frame behind clear Plexiglas designed to filter out harmful ultraviolet light.

She found the piece of parchment to be in surprisingly good shape. The warrant showed no damage from the brown ink used to write and draw on its surface.

“Back then, scribes made their own ink and it could be highly acidic. Sometimes, the ink used on a document will eat holes in it.”

“The warrant is in great condition. Still, it should not be out on display for too long,” Malkin advised the Masons.

Robbins plans to store the document in a safe at the Masons’ brick two-story building at the corner of Second and Hickory streets.

Animal skin vellum has mostly been replaced these days by cotton-based paper vellum (you can find it in most well-stocked art supply stores). But the authentic stuff is still made with animal hides and used today to create archival copies of Acts of the English Parliament, and for printing Torah scrolls.

Minnesota's Mankato Lodge 12 Complete's Major Remodeling

by Christopher Hodapp

Mankato Lodge 12 in Mankato, Minnesota has just completed a major remodeling project, funded partially with a $25,000 grant from the city, plus matching funds from the building's tenant organizations. The local Masons wanted to improve their own spaces in the building, but also make their historic Masonic Hall attractive as a venue for local weddings, social and business meetings, and other events. They've officially rechristened the temple as Historic Masonic Hall. 

Built in 1856, it is reported to be the oldest standing building in Mankato.

According to an article in The Free Press by Michael Lagerquist, the lodge currently has 110 members. They share their temple with an Order of the Eastern Star chapter and a Job's Daughters chapter.

The hand-painted cloud image over the lodge room had long been in deteriorating condition. Because of roof leaks over the years, the dome had to be repaired first. Artist Wendy Waszut-Barrett from Historic Stage Services was brought in to touch up the mural in spots affected by the repairs. She specializes in the restoration and recreation of scenery for historic theaters, and has been hired by several Scottish Rite valleys all over the country to repair or restore their many elaborate stage backdrops used in their many degrees.

Mankato Lodge 12 was chartered in 1856, two years before Minnesota statehood was achieved.

Minnesota Masons Donate $35 Million for Brain Research at University of Minnesota

by Christopher Hodapp

Minnesota Masonic Charities is the charitable giving foundation of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, and their principal support is for the University of Minnesota's medical facilities. In the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown, the Masons of that state have just announced a $35 million gift to the University to establish the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, described as "an interdisciplinary initiative focused on the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of neuro-developmental disorders in early childhood and adolescence."

From a press release issued by the University yesterday:

Led by the University’s Medical School and College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), this unique institute will bring together teams of researchers and clinicians who study how the brain grows and develops during early childhood and adolescence—formative years when the brain is most receptive to positive intervention.

Working together under one roof at the site of the former Shriners Healthcare for Children campus in Minneapolis, an array of experts will tackle such disorders as autism, ADHD, cognitive delays, drug addiction and severe depression, conditions that can often be identified early and have lifelong consequences.

“Our long-standing partnership with the University of Minnesota aligns with our mission to make meaningful contributions to society,” said Eric Neetenbeek, president and CEO of Minnesota Masonic Charities. “The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain is another example of how we can unite the incredible expertise of the University with the capacity of Minnesota Masonry to benefit our entire state and, indeed, the world.”

University of Minnesota President Joan T. A. Gabel, who has made student mental health one of her top priorities, believes the support will improve lives when it matters most. “Early support of brain health sets the stage for everything to come in life,” she said. “Thanks to the Masons’ transformative gift, the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain will help ensure that children have the strongest start for a safe, happy and productive life.”

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain will form a research campus with M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and the University’s Biomedical Discovery District. The 10.2-acre property includes a two-level building with a hospital, clinic, and support area, as well as conference space and an attached parking lot. It is expected to open in Fall 2021 at the East River Parkway location.

This is by no means the only massive donation the state's fraternity has made to the University. With its latest gift of $35 million to establish and name the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Minnesota Masonic Charities has contributed more than $160 million to the University of Minnesota to accelerate research discoveries in cancer and children’s health.

The University built the 80-bed Masonic Memorial Hospital in 1958 and the Masonic Cancer Research Building in the mid-’90s with support from Minnesota Masons. A $65 million pledge in 2008 to name the Masonic Cancer Center continues to advance major research discoveries. A $10 million gift from the Masons built the Masonic Cancer Clinic, which provides premier cancer care in the M Health Fairview Clinics and Surgery Center on the Twin Cities campus. In addition, a $25 million gift made in 2014 to enhance pediatric research and care led to the renaming of M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

H/T: Douglas Campbell

New Minnesota GM Passes Away

(This story has been updated 4/23/2019 at 11:50AM)

Tragic news from Minnesota this Easter weekend. MW Steven D. Johnson, the newly elected and installed Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota AF&AM for 2019-2020, passed away very suddenly to the Celestial Lodge on Saturday, April 20th.

He had been in office for only a week.

My deepest heartfelt condolences go to his wife Lynette, his family, and to the entire Masonic community of Minnesota. His column is broken, and his brethren mourn.

Requiescat in pace.

---

Grand Master Steven D. Johnson's obituary has been posted this morning:

Age 70, of Eagan, died suddenly Sunday, April 21st 2019.

Steven was born February 17th, 1949 in Rushford, MN, son of Maynard and Marjorie Johnson, and graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High school in 1967. 

He is survived by his loving wife Lynette; his three children, Ben (Jennifer) Johnson of Minneapolis, Tia (Jeff) Marks of Owatonna, and Michelle (Sean) Ronsen of Minnetonka; his five grandchildren, Josiah, Lydia, Maggie, Emelia, and Fletcher; his sister Linda (Bob) Stankovich; his sister-in-law MaryAnn Johnson; his niece, nephews and their families; and his first wife, Tammy (Rob) Olsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jerry Johnson.

Steve had a curiosity and passion for life. He loved his hobbies and toys; racing cars, motorbikes, and sailboats. He and Lynette loved spending time together on their boat and motorcycle. Always with their dog Schooner along for the ride!

Steve was blessed with amazing creative talents from his writing original stories and characters, songs, jingles, and the many instruments he played. Steve was a dreamer with vision and he loved to share it with others. Steve combined these talents with his passion for people in his work at the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation where he helped raise millions of dollars. This drive and charisma also led him to his position of leadership on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Masonic Charities.

Steve joined the Masons of Minnesota in June of 2005. He respected their honored traditions and philanthropic mission, but above all, he valued their friendship and guidance toward becoming his best self. Steve was installed as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota on April 13th, 2019. This was a tremendous honor for him.

His family will remember his laughter and humor, his zest for adventure, and his desire to imagine new ways to do things. Steve was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren; their skills, gifts, and individuality. His face would light up whenever he could teach them something new or spend time witnessing what brought them joy. He cherished his life with Lynette – his perfect match, his partner, his love, his best friend. 

He left us too soon and he will be missed. But we will never grow tired of telling stories of who he was and the mark he left on our lives.

According to the website, there will be a gathering on Saturday, April 27th from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM at:

Klecatsky & Sons Eagan Chapel
1580 Century Point
Eagan, MN, 55121

The Masonic Memorial Service will begin at 3:00PM

Road Trip: Grand Lodge of Minnesota Membership Seminar 2/26

This Saturday I'll be heading north and speaking at the Grand Lodge of Minnesota's 2nd Annual Membership Seminar, at the St. Paul Masonic Center, located at 200 East Plato Boulevard. Also speaking will be Jeffrey Sowder, a Past Potentate and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., and sessions will run from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the St. Paul Masonic Center. The cost is $10.00 and includes lunch.

I'm looking forward to seeing Minnesota brethren again!