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John Johnson Obituary
Visit the Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services - The Lee Chapel website to view the full obituary.
John W. "Jack" Johnson, age 88, passed away Friday, February 27, 2026. He was born on July 21, 1937 in Muskegon, MI to John Edward and Fern (Beden) Johnson. Jack proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps, the United States Army, and later in the Army Reserves, faithfully serving one weekend each month in Gaylord, Michigan.
He dedicated many years of his career to Stewart Engineering, where he worked as a welder, fabricator, and engineer. Skilled and dependable, Jack truly was a jack of all trades, capable of building, fixing, and creating just about anything he set his mind to.
Jack was a skilled knife maker who took his nephews under his wing, teaching them the trade and sharing his passion for craftsmanship. He was an avid gun enthusiast and collector, well known for his sharp-shooting skills in competitions. Jack cherished the "old school" traditions of hunting, especially the way they brought family and friends together.
He loved tinkering and collecting tractors, often frequenting yard sales in search of hidden treasures he could restore and bring back to life. Music was another great joy in his life, his favorite song was "Take the Ribbon from Your Hair," and he once played seven nights a week at the Old Cottage Inn alongside friends. On Sunday afternoons, you could often find him dancing with family, soaking in the simple pleasures of being together.
Above all, Jack treasured time with his family, whether camping on vacations or heading out on hunting trips. Their annual family camping adventure, which took them around the country with friends, was a highlight they looked forward to year after year.
On February 21, 1958 he married the former Jolly Rice in Muskegon and they celebrated 63 years together before she preceded him in death on November 8, 2021.
SURVIVORS include three children, John Edward (Tammy) Johnson, Felicia Johnson, and Jeffery Alan (Jill) Johnson; five grandchildren; RJ (Jessica) Pierson, Tanner (Maggie) Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Brock (Alyssa) Johnson and Hollie Johnson; two great grandchildren, Parker, Mason and one more on the way; brother, Marvin Johnson, sister, Evelyn Josaitis; and special family friends, Lee and Shirley Thurston, Ben Pekel, and April Rice.
John was also preceded in death by his parents; sister, Deloris Wheeler; special friends, John "Zeb" Rice; Mark, Paul and Tim "Turk" Rice; Bruce Thornberg and Ronnie Macomber.
FUNERAL SERVICES will be 11AM Friday, March 6, 2026 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St. Norton Shores, MI 49444 (231) 798-1100. VISITATION with the family will be 6-8PM Thursday, March 5 at The Lee Chapel, and also one hour prior to the service, from 10-11AM.
Burial will take place at Thompsonville Cemetery in Benzie County. Memorial Contributions to the family will be appreciated.
Share memories with the family online at https://www.sytsemafh.com
He dedicated many years of his career to Stewart Engineering, where he worked as a welder, fabricator, and engineer. Skilled and dependable, Jack truly was a jack of all trades, capable of building, fixing, and creating just about anything he set his mind to.
Jack was a skilled knife maker who took his nephews under his wing, teaching them the trade and sharing his passion for craftsmanship. He was an avid gun enthusiast and collector, well known for his sharp-shooting skills in competitions. Jack cherished the "old school" traditions of hunting, especially the way they brought family and friends together.
He loved tinkering and collecting tractors, often frequenting yard sales in search of hidden treasures he could restore and bring back to life. Music was another great joy in his life, his favorite song was "Take the Ribbon from Your Hair," and he once played seven nights a week at the Old Cottage Inn alongside friends. On Sunday afternoons, you could often find him dancing with family, soaking in the simple pleasures of being together.
Above all, Jack treasured time with his family, whether camping on vacations or heading out on hunting trips. Their annual family camping adventure, which took them around the country with friends, was a highlight they looked forward to year after year.
On February 21, 1958 he married the former Jolly Rice in Muskegon and they celebrated 63 years together before she preceded him in death on November 8, 2021.
SURVIVORS include three children, John Edward (Tammy) Johnson, Felicia Johnson, and Jeffery Alan (Jill) Johnson; five grandchildren; RJ (Jessica) Pierson, Tanner (Maggie) Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Brock (Alyssa) Johnson and Hollie Johnson; two great grandchildren, Parker, Mason and one more on the way; brother, Marvin Johnson, sister, Evelyn Josaitis; and special family friends, Lee and Shirley Thurston, Ben Pekel, and April Rice.
John was also preceded in death by his parents; sister, Deloris Wheeler; special friends, John "Zeb" Rice; Mark, Paul and Tim "Turk" Rice; Bruce Thornberg and Ronnie Macomber.
FUNERAL SERVICES will be 11AM Friday, March 6, 2026 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St. Norton Shores, MI 49444 (231) 798-1100. VISITATION with the family will be 6-8PM Thursday, March 5 at The Lee Chapel, and also one hour prior to the service, from 10-11AM.
Burial will take place at Thompsonville Cemetery in Benzie County. Memorial Contributions to the family will be appreciated.
Share memories with the family online at https://www.sytsemafh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services - The Lee Chapel
6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444
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