Otis “Odie” Maximus Johnston, 72

Odie Johnston wagged his tail for the last time Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at the age of 72 (14 in human years). He was thought to have been born some time in early 1991.
Odie had a rough start to his life having been abandoned on the streets of International Falls, Minnesota around the age of six. He had been on the streets for some time and in the fall of 1997 he was found nearly dead. He was nursed back to health by a caring adopted mom, Cathy Imhoff, of Little Fork, MN.
At the time he was going to go and live with Cathy’s mom who had an ailing dog that suddenly made a recovery. It was then decided that Odie would come and live with Ken Johnston of Rainy River, Ont.
The pair quickly became very close, with Odie going everywhere with Dad. He even put in shifts at the Record office every week, helping the staff keep their coffee breaks on schedule by signalling for a treat here and there. A few times he was put in charge of the press run on Tuesdays in Fort Frances and quickly became a favourite visitor of Aunts Pam and Susan at the Fort Frances Times.
Odie was always a laid back dog. He rarely barked and loved to take long naps in the sun on summer days. That is where he was on August 7th when he suffered a stroke brought on by kidney failure.
Odie had a baby brother, Navy, who arrived on the scene about nine months after Odie claimed Dad’s home as his own. Together they enjoyed many trips to Grandma Norma and Grandpa Irwin’s for toast on Wednesdays and weekends. They also loved camping every summer, especially at Itasca State Park.
Odie was famous for his “great escapes” having more than once figured out how to open a door to get outside. Once at Itasca Park (south of Bemidji) he opened Grandpa’s camper door and he and Navy proceeded to tour the adjacent campsites, begging treats off everyone there. Dad and the grandparents had gone the town and when they came back did not know the dogs had been out. Another camper knew where they came from and put them back, not telling the tale of Odie’s breakout until two days later.
This past Christmas Odie got away again and became lost on a very very cold night. Fortunately Record Office neighbour Lance Lindal had seen him over by the curling rink where he had huddled in the snowbank. Had he not seen him he surely would have left us then.
Over the course of the past few months his health has steadily declined. He is now in a place where he can have all the naps and treats he wants and will never suffer again.
Services were held for him on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005. He was interred at a special place.
Pallbearers were his Dad, Ken, and Grandpa Irwin. Honorary pallbearers were Auntie Linda, Auntie Anne, Uncle Bob and Uncle Jim.
He truly was a blessing to all who knew this mild mannered fella. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Humane Society of your choice or to the Navy Johnston treat fund.