BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Roger Johnson, vice president and general manager of the Temp-Air division of Rupp Industries, died recently after a long battle with leukemia. He was 56.

Johnson began his career scraping temporary heaters for Rupp in 1970 during summers. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Johnson accepted a full-time position as an assembler. Because of what Rupp officials called his “leadership ability, coupled with his dedication and determination and entrepreneurial spirit,” Johnson rose within the company becoming a sales representative, Temp-Heat operations manager and ultimately vice president and general manager for the Temp-Air division and a member of Rupp's board of directors.

Johnson was described by Rupp officials as “a lover of the outdoors, spending his free time hunting, fishing, or sitting on his cabin deck telling stories.” He is survived by his wife Judy and three sons.