John M Johnson

John Mulzer Johnson
August 3, 1931 - January 21, 2018

Beloved husband and father, John M. Johnson, passed away in Vancouver, WA on January 21, 2018, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. John was born in Shasta, California on August 3, 1931 to Fred W. Johnson and Marie (Mulzer) Johnson

He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Alaska as a meteorologist and Russian communications interceptor. He then graduated from the University of Montana (1957, BS in Forestry), and in 1948 he married June (Patton) Johnson. They had four children together -- Bonnie, Jeff, Paul, and Matt. He spent his career in the US Forest Service in Montana, Idaho and Alaska, before retiring as a Land Use Planner with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Vancouver, Washington. He worshiped at the Vancouver First Church of God where he lead adult education, was an usher and served on the church board. After 40 years of marriage, his wife June died of cancer in 1999. In September of 2000, he married Joan M. Johnson, with whom he shared the remaining years of his life.

John loved the outdoors, and enjoyed fly fishing, canoeing, hiking and bow hunting in the great public lands of the West. If not for Alzheimer's, he might still be stomping around outside, pointing out interesting cloud formations, geological features, flora, and fauna, and bringing life to others through his big, easy smile. His humorous, mostly true stories are legend among his family and friends. He will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his sister Ann O'Keefe of Powell Butte, OR, daughter Bonnie Rees of Gig Harbor, WA, sons Jeff Johnson of Austin, TX, Paul Johnson of Auburn, WA and Matthew Johnson of McMinnville, OR, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His life will be remembered and celebrated at Vancouver Church (3300 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA ) on Sunday, February 25th at 3:00 PM.