Ardy Johnson

Born November 12, 1939, in Marquette, a son of Arnold and Mabel (Anderson) Johnson, Ardy was raised in Carlshend. A great-grandson of Carl Johnson (the “Carl” of Carlshend), Ardy grew up with a strong sense of his Swedish identity and developed a love of local history. He graduated from Gwinn High School in 1957 and enrolled at Northern Michigan University, pursuing a degree in music and a teaching certificate. Upon receiving his bachelors degree from NMU, he signed a teaching contract with the Gwinn School System where he taught for 15 years. He then retired from teaching and devoted the remainder of his life to taking care of people.

For over 19 years, Ardy served as pastor of the Community Covenant Church in Carlshend. Caring, compassionate, and generous with his time and talent, Ardy was often called upon to officiate funerals, weddings, and religious services. For many years, he assisted hundreds of people as they faced difficult times and uncertainty amid loss. For 28 years, Ardy served as protestant chaplain at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans and led services at the Norlite Nursing Center and Marquette County Medical Care Facility. His services usually consisted of gathering people together and singing songs, usually asking the assembled congregation to select the songs they wanted to sing. He was always happiest when he could get people involved with each other. For a time, Ardy served as the accompanist for the Saturday evening services at Messiah Lutheran Church. Ardy’s other passions included reading, his love of his Swedish heritage and his love and enjoyment of history and genealogy.

Survivors include his brother, Dan (Kathy) Johnson of Carlshend; his nieces, Heidi (Chris) Bray of Palmer and their children, Elijah and Matthew, and Sarah (Dean) Jacques and their daughter, Julia (Henry) Cobb of DePere, WI; his nephew, Carl Wold Johnson of Minnesota; and brother-in-law, Don Krejcarek of Glennie, MI. Ardy was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Karen (the late Don) Wold and Joell Krejcarek.

Memorial services, honoring Ardy’s life, will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Christian Aid Mission. Please use website christianaid.org to designate memorials.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Mill Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care and also to UP Home Health and Hospice for the compassionate and professional care they provided to Ardy, and also for the many kindnesses extended to the family.

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