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Services for Marvin Dale Johnsen, 76, of Turlock are scheduled for 12:30 p.m., Saturday, June 19, at Turlock Funeral Home, with interment following at Turlock Memorial Park. Visitation will take place from noon to 5 p.m., Friday. He died suddenly at his residence on Thursday. Marvin was born in Turlock, and his family moved when he was quite young. His father, Benny, was a welder on gold dredges, so they followed the work to Le Grand, Murphys, Vallecito, Folsom, and Oroville. They returned to Turlock in 1949 when Marvin was a sophomore, and he graduated from Turlock High in 1952. He married his high school sweetheart, Elaine Ramos, in the summer of 1953. Marvin worked as a butcher for 20 years in Gustine, and then started his second career as a carpenter. He worked for Jim Fernandes Construction until his retirement in 1998. He also worked on the family ranch growing walnuts and olives. Hes the third generation Johnsen to make the familys special home-cured olives. Marv kept busy after retirement by volunteering hundreds of hours for the refurbishment of Turlock Historical (Hysterical) Museum, alongside one of his best friends, Jim Fernandes. They were both named Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellows in 2004 for their many hours of commitment to the museum. Marv also spent many hours making, placing, and maintaining wood duck boxes, and banding ducklings for the Stanislaus County Fish & Wildlife Committee, of which he was a long standing member. He loved making things from wood and food products; tops, jewelry boxes, chess boards, banks, and childrens toys, all made from harvested olive and walnut wood from the ranch. He always had some mysterious culinary creation in the works. He was also a squirrel population control specialist and founder of S.P.C.S. Most of all Marv loved his family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, his parents, Benny and Gladys (Dimberg) Johnsen, and his brother-in-law, Barry Arndt. Hes survived by his sisters, Danette Tiernan (Bill) and Jeannine Arndt, his children, Richelle Alexander (Jeff), Marlaine Babbitt (Allen), Scott Johnsen (Wendy), Denise Maxwell (Anthony), Brett Johnsen (Vickie), 12 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include year-long Y.F.U. exchange students that Marv and Elaine hosted, all of whom are still part of the family today. Memorials may be made to Turlock Historical Society, P.O. Box 18, Turlock, CA 95381. Services are under the direction of Turlock Memorial Park & Funeral Home.

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Marvin Dale Johnsen

April 16, 1934 - June 10, 2010