Oregon State Bar Bulletin — January 2002
In Memoriam
Joan Esther (Niemi) Johansen of Coos bay died Oct. 30, 2001 after 12 years with cancer. She was 51.
She earned a degree in psychology from the University of Oregon and worked as a criminal jsutive planner. She worked in the legal system in Guam starting in the late 1970's before returning to Oregon to earn a law degree. She graduated from U.O. Law School in 1984.
In Coos Bay she began a law practice and married another bar member, Lee J. Todd. For many years she also ran an art shop.
Her husband predeceased her. Johansen is survived by her brother and his family.
• • • • •
U.S. Air Force Capt Lars Toftemark died Nov. 21, 2001 of cancer at the age of 33.
Toftemark was born Dec. 20, 1967 in Eugene and grew up there. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1990 with a B.S. in communications and from Wilmington College in Dover, Del., in 1994 with master's degrees in personnel management and public administration. In 1997 he earned his law degree from Willamette University College of Law. He was a member of the Nebraska and Oregon bars.
Toftemark recieved his commission in the Air Force in 1990 and served honorably from 1991 until his death. During this time, he was selected for a special schooling and attended law school through an Air Force program that allowed him to remain in the service while attending school.
He served as a deputy staff judge advocate at Offutt A.F.B. in Omaha, Neb., and as the deputy staff judge advocate of the 12th Fighter Training Wing in Columbus, Miss. He stayed active with the OSB, winning appointment as an out of state delegate to the OSB House of Delegates. He had many interests, was active in Oregon politics before his entry into the Air Force and had hoped to return to the state after retiring from the service.
Survivors include his wife Elizabeth, twin children Katherine and Eric, parents Lois and Svend Toftemark, and sister Lisa Toftemark.