Thomas K. Johnson

IRON MOUNTAIN -Thomas K Johnson, 60, of 220 Lincoln Street, Iron Mountain, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. Tom was born December 29, 1948 in Norway, Michigan, the son of Marion and the late Curtis Johnson. Tom was a lifelong resident of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area. He graduated from Kingsford High School in 1967 and Northern Michigan University in 1972, where he received his bachelor's degree in education. He married the former Laurie LaVarnway on October 18, 1980 at the First Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. Tom retired from his joint position of Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community School Director and Iron Mountain Athletic Director in June of this year. Tom worked in community education for 39 years � the first 13 as the Community School Director in Norway and the last 20 as Director for the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools. He truly enjoyed his profession because it brought him in contact with many different people off all ages. He was very proud of the programs that Community Schools sponsored. Tom also served as the Iron Mountain Athletic Director for 15 years, where he made every effort to attend every sporting event possible, and never missed a downstate tournament in any sport. He loved being a Mountaineer and was named the 2009 U.P. Athletic Director of the Year. Tom was active in many fund-raising activities during his career, initiating the idea of $100 sport raffles, which have been widely used ever since. He secured two $400,000 grants, one for the track at Norway High School and the other for equipment in the Izzo-Mariucci Center. Tom was a committee member for the Iron Mountain Centennial Celebration, the Gus Macker basketball tournaments, and the Izzo-Mariucci Golf Classic. Tom was past president of the Upper Peninsula Community Education Association, the U.P. Fastpitch Softball Association, and the U.P. Independent Basketball Association. Tom enjoyed an active life. He participated in fastpitch softball and hardball for many years, independent basketball and at the age of 40, spent his free time on the golf course. His hobbies included refereeing basketball, playing cribbage with his "buddies", hunting, and gathering friends for social activities. His many friends were like a second family to him. Tom leaves his wife Laurie, three daughters, Kristen of Port Washington, Wisconsin, Brooke and Ashlee of Iron Mountain, and two grandchildren Megan Keltner and Collin Punzel. He leaves his mother Marion, a brother Todd (Dawn) Johnson of Kingsford and sister Debbie (Gordy) Jacobson of Felch, mother-in-law and father-in-law Roy and Noleen LaVarnway, his sister-in-law and golf partner Jodi LaVarnway, brother-in-law Michael (Heather) LaVarnway and his nieces and nephews. In addition to his grandparents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law David LaVarnway and his dear friend Richard (Dick) Brown. Tom loved life and fought tirelessly for his, with the guidance of his friends, Dr. Gus Morel and Dr. Steve Leonard. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3:00 until 8:00pm at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain. Parish prayers will be recited at 7:30pm at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00am at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford. Fr. Joseph Gouin will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. A group of his close friends will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Tom's memory. Condolences to the family of Tom Johnson may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.