Murwin A. Johnson, 83, of Ivoryton, died on Nov. 8.  He was the husband of 43 years to Polly Turner Johnson. Murwin was born and resided all his life in Ivoryton, the son of the late Axel and Mabel (Burdick) Johnson. He was, at heart, a farmer, and he cared deeply for his patch of earth at the top of Walnut Street, raising sheep and other livestock. 

Murwin was a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Agriculture and a veteran of the Korean War.  He had worked for 30 years as an inspector for the Dairy Division of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Murwin received great pleasure from his association with Connecticut farmers through his job and from sharing his small farm with children from local pre-schools and the Essex Elementary kindergarten.  He was extremely pleased to be able to work with the Essex Land Trust to protect his farm and woodland from future development.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Kurt Johnson and wife Valerie; two daughters, Kim Kolakowski, and Sarah Johnson and her husband Manuel Miranda; and his grandchildren, Courtney Kolakowski and her partner Aaron, Jennifer Smith and her husband Daniel, Robert and Martha Ann Johnson, and Annabel and Gabriel Miranda. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, McKenna Smith and Olivia Kolakowski; his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Edward Szymanski; and his extended family of loving nephews, nieces, and in-laws.  He was predeceased by his brother Hanford Johnson and his son Eric Johnson.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St., Centerbrook. A memorial service will be held in the spring at the farm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Essex Land Trust, PO. Box 373, Essex, CT 06426. To share a memory of Murwin or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com.