John "J.R." Johnson

Johnson, John"J.R."
Resident of Newport Beach, CA, born July 23, 1920, in Webster City, Iowa, to Elizabeth and Ernest Johnson, passed away the morning of September 21, 2005, while vacationing in Canada with his wife, aboard his treasured boat, the M.V. Newmar. J.R. attended Westminster College before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1941. He proudly served in the South Pacific during WWII, reaching the rank of Lieutenant, and was a member of the honor guard at the funeral for President Roosevelt. After serving in the Marine Corps., J.R. attended the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and Northwestern University simultaneously. He graduated from Northwestern in 1946, with a degree in Engineering. At Standard Coil Products, J.R. was responsible for the development and production of the television tuner, which revolutionized the television industry. As President of Royal Industries, he turned the failing business into a Fortune 500 company. He authored a book, entitled Takeover, regarding the takeover of Royal Industries. J.R. was the current Chairman and CEO of Newmar, manufacturer of premium marine electronic equipment. He built the company from a small enterprise to a successful factory with over 100 loyal employees. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Park Race Track; and along with his close friends, owned a number of race horses. J.R. is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy, with whom he shared many joyous years of companionship and travel; his sister Justine; his children, Sydney and John; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A funeral will be held in Webster City, Iowa, with a celebration of his life to follow in Southern California on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of J.R. Johnson, Westminster College, Development Office, 501 Westminster Ave., Fulton, Missouri, 65251.