Keith Vernon Johnson

1923 - 2021

BORN

1923

DIED

2021

About

Arlington High School University of Nebraska University of Washington

Keith Johnson Obituary

Capt. Keith Vernon Johnson

December 12, 1923 – August 14, 2021

Capt. Keith Vernon Johnson, USN (RET), passed away on Aug. 14, 2021, in Seattle, Washington, of natural causes at the age of 97. Son of Ernest V. and Leatha O. (Linn) Johnson, he was born on Dec. 12, 1923, in Fremont, Nebraska. Keith attended schools in Saunders County, Nebraska – District 7, Mead Consolidated, and District 57. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1941 and attended University of Nebraska, Doane College and University of Washington.

On Nov. 23, 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie A. Gilfry, at Arlington, Nebraska. The day prior, Keith received his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. He served in the pacific theater in WWII aboard the USS LST (Landing Ship Tank) 1073, and following that, he remained in the U.S. Navy until his retirement in 1975. During the Korean Conflict, he served on destroyer USS Bradford, DD-545, and during Vietnam as Commander, Destroyer Division 112 out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His ashore assignments included critical staff positions and attaché assignments in London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; and Hong Kong.

Until moving to Seattle in 2019, Honolulu was home for Marjorie and Keith. For many years, they wintered in Honolulu and summered in Mt. Vernon, Washington, where the family farm on Avon Allen Road served as base for travel.

Keith was an avid tennis player and enjoyed playing until age 92; he was also the volunteer repair and maintenance man for many of the tennis courts in Honolulu. His love of tennis led to a second career as a Grand Prix tournament supervisor for the Men's International Professional Tennis Council throughout the 1980s. He closed out this second career as Referee at the 1990 US Open. He then pursued genealogy and through extensive research established a worldwide network of family contacts, drawing people together and coordinating numerous family reunions.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Kean Per; and his wife, Marjorie.

He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Tia Linn Johnson and spouse Gayle Yamamoto; son, Leif Johnson and spouse Patricia McQuistion; sister, Shirley Benson; grandchildren, Leif, Nicholas, Laura; and great-grandson, Leif Brogan.

At Keith's request, there will be no public memorial services. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Keith's memory is encouraged to do so at their local youth tennis program; Green Mound Cemetery, 1890 County Rd. 12, Mead, NE 68041, Tel 402-443-5346; or Saunders County Historical Society, 240 Walnut, Wahoo, NE 68066, Tel 402-443-3090.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Fremont Tribune on Sep. 18, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Keith Johnson

3 Entries

Carol and Bob Lievense, Curlew WA

December 27, 2022

When Mike and Jolene Benson moved to Curlew and built their house on Customs Rd., Keith and Marjorie followed soon after and bought property next to them. We lived right up the road from them. had a ranch and Keith helped us when he was over. He got down and dirty. We had so much fun with them. Marg loved her coffee. We went to Canada quite a bit for a Russian food and always had to get a coffee if the place was open or in Curlew. We would meet them in Winthrop and have lunch at the duck Inn. I could just go on and on with the memories but they were some of the most wonderful people that we have met in our life. If their daughter reads this we would love to just communicate at some point. We met her and her partner when they had come over once so. Loved them.

Joel Reisman, MD

October 1, 2022

I served under Captain Johnson as Division 112 Medical Officer in 1968. He was the finest Officer and gentleman in the Navy. I wish I had searched for him while he was alive and would loved to have played tennis with him.

Marshall Happer

October 15, 2021

I just learned of Keith's death and to his children and all of his family, I extend my deepest sympathy. I had the honor to hire Keith as a Grand Prix Supervisor for the major international Grand Prix of Tennis and also as the Referee for the 1990 US Open. Keith was a wonderful man and dedicated professional tennis official and we will all miss him. In November, my book Pioneers of the Game (now available for pre-order on Amazon) will include Keith's photo as one of the most important leading officials for professional tennis. I would welcome any contact from Keith's family.

Marshall Happer

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