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Gordon Leo Johnson

Gordon Leo Johnson

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP, MI — Gordon Leo Johnson, age 88, of Chocolay Township, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2020, at home, in the loving, comforting care of his family and caregivers of Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice.

Born October 18, 1931, in Munising, a son of Carl William and Sarah Marie (McNamara) Johnson, Gordon was raised on the family farm in Kiva where he very early on learned the value of work and developed a strong work ethic. He graduated from the Mathias Township School in Trenary in 1951, where like some of his other siblings, he was active in school sports. In his younger years, Gordon was a good and valued baseball team member for the Trenary team. In 1953, Gordon was drafted in the US Army, serving during the Korean Conflict, until his honorable discharge in 1955 with the rank of sergeant. Returning to the Kiva area, he worked in several saw mills and various other jobs. On August 3, 1957, Gordon was united in marriage to the former June Milkovich at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Escanaba. For many years, Gordon was employed by the Marquette Public Schools as a custodian at the Kaufman Auditorium from where he ultimately retired. During those years he was able to meet a number of distinguished people from the various events and enjoyed brief visits with them. Gordon was basically a family man who enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved working in the woods, timber cruising, hunting, loved a good game of golf, and was an avid Detroit sports fan of the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings. He was an active member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey, coached in the Church Softball League, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. In 2014, Gordon was honored to have been included in Honor Flight, a trip he greatly appreciated and enjoyed.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 63 years, June; his four children, Mary (Eric Piirainen) Johnson, Dale Johnson, Jeff Johnson, and Gary Johnson all of Marquette; a brother, Paul (Vergil) Johnson of Swartz Creek, MI; his sister, Violet Fezzey of Oceanside, CA; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Lawrence “Buck”, Allen, Keith, and Donald Johnson; six sisters, Margaret “Muggs” Lemire, Gertrude Johnson, Frances Johnson, Teresa Rodriguez, Grace Ouelette, and Agnes Rukkila Moore.

Graveside services will be held at the Holy Cross Cemetery on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 11:00 am with Rev. Glenn Theoret officiating.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com