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Zachary J. Johnson

Zachary J. Johnson

MARQUETTE, MI – Zachary J. Johnson, 23, of Marquette, along with his beloved Krista and their expected child, died Monday evening, January 8, 2018 as a result of a house fire.

Zach was born on July 19, 1994 in Marquette to Michael and Lynne (Manchester) Johnson and was a lifelong area resident. He was a 2013 graduate of Marquette Senior High School and had attended NMU.

At the time of his death, Zach was employed with the Gundlach Champion Construction Company as a union carpenter. Zach loved working, often having two or three jobs at once, for both the joy of the labor, but also because of his commitment to supporting his family.

However, Zach’s joy was his friends and family, and he was dedicated to their needs and care. He was always fixing a friend’s car, pulling someone out of a mud hole, giving a friend a place to stay, or lending someone money. He helped his parents cutting wood and working the farm, and one of his last projects was putting a new roof on his grandparents’ house. He and his older brother Josh grew up like twins, building shacks, forts, sky-high platforms and zip-lines, catapults, trebuchets, sailboats, and finally trucks. Zach was fiercely proud and protective of his younger brother, Jacob, going as often as possible to Jacob’s football and basketball games and wrestling meets as well as working many hours so his little brother could apply to any university he wanted. Zach also loved his cats, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, skunks and all the other animals that drifted through his life, especially his dogs Scooter and Abbey.

Finally, Zach’s greatest happiness was growing his family, bringing his beloved Krista Urbanc and then their coming child into the circle. Krista was his joy as well as the daughter that his mother, Lynne, had never had, and together the three were linked by an unshakeable bond.

Surviving Zach in addition to his parents are two brothers, Joshua and Jacob Johnson, both of Marquette; his maternal grandparents, John and Diane Manchester of Marquette and paternal grandmother, Rosemary Channing of Niagara, WI; also surviving are several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Edward Johnson, step-grandfather, Jack Channing; also Krista Urbanc and their expected child.

Zach’s family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home where there will be a celebration of Zach’s life at 6 p.m. in the funeral home.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider UPAWS, PO Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855 in memory of Zach, Krista and their child.

The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the Johnson family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.