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Saturday, November 28, 2009
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No rocky road for 'Uncle Donny' It's smooth sailing with ice cream delivery man at the helm Senior Reporter NISSWA - Involved with the dairy industry since he was a boy, Don Johnson's recent naming to the Kemps Hall of Fame comes after years of working with the frozen variety.
Namely ice cream.
Johnson, who lives just north of Brainerd, drives a refrigerated truck full of the frozen dessert treats, putting on 3,000 miles a week across central and northern Minnesota.
Johnson, 56, grew up on a farm with dairy cows about nine miles east of Brainerd. In 1972, he worked for Meadow Gold Dairy's bottling plant, formerly located next to Hardee's on Washington Street in Brainerd. He later worked for Clover Leaf, driving a milk route and hauling ice cream. In the 1970s there were still a couple of routes in Brainerd that delivered milk to people's doors. Clover Leaf's operation was eventually sold to Kemps.
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Don Johnson delivered Kemps Ice Cream to the Holiday station/convenience store at the corner of Highway 371 in Nisswa.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
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Johnson's been hauling Kemps ice cream to area stores solely since 2002. The work and the businesses have changed greatly during the last decades., with the exception of the early hours required in the dairy business. Johnson's work day starts at about 4:30 a.m. In the winter, he's done by 3 p.m. Summers demand 12-hour days with 18 to 20 stops a day.
Mike Edelbrock, Kemps supervisor for the Brainerd branch, said customers have given Johnson a family nickname indicative of how he is regarded in the community.
"He's well-liked out there," Edelbrock said. "He's doing an outstanding job. He's just a down-to-earth kind of guy. They call him 'Uncle Donny' because he takes such good care of them."
Edelbrock said those named to the Kemps Hall of Fame receive a trophy, a $1,000 bonus and get their photo on the wall of fame at the company's office in St. Paul.
Robert Stoll, owner of the Chocolate Ox in Nisswa, has known Johnson for about seven years. Stoll said Johnson's friendliness stands out along with his product knowledge. Stoll said Johnson looks out for the customers he serves by anticipating and answering their questions.
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Don Johnson (left) stacked Kemps Ice Cream into a display case at the Holiday convenience store Monday in Nisswa as store manager Wayne Nelson checked on the order.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
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"He's the best driver delivery man that we work with," Stoll said. "I've nothing but really good things to say about Don. He's always in a positive mood, always upbeat."
Orders are called into Minneapolis, sent out to the drivers and they load the items onto the delivery truck. Then it's traversing snowy or icy roads, maneuvering through foggy mornings or negotiating alleys on the Fourth of July in Nisswa, all with a 32-foot truck box behind his rig.
"Yeah, it's fun," he said with a laugh. "A lot of good people, the guys I work with and my customers. That's what makes it fun."
He's delivered ice cream to cone shops in numerous area cities since 1980. The equipment has changed, but the little towns haven't changed so much, Johnson said. Although, he added, they sell more ice cream.
Being named to the Kemps Hall of Fame was a surprise. Johnson didn't know someone in the company had nominated him but he said the recognition, while unexpected, was nice.
"It makes you feel good somebody does appreciate what you've been doing all these years," Johnson said.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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