August 27, 1925 – November 25, 2013
Vern Johnson of Cochrane, AB passed away peacefully of old age on Monday November 25, 2013 with his family by his side at 88 years of age.
Vern is survived by his wife Laura Johnson (nee Penrice), four daughters and their families: Linda and Fritz Kobza of Canal Flats, BC; Charlotte Henson of Cochrane, AB;
Catherine and Derek Green of Billericay, Essex, UK; and Ingrid Johnson and Cory Rushford of Calgary, AB. Vern is predeceased by his eldest daughter, Carolyn Stefanson.
He is also survived by seven grandchildren and their families: Christopher and Kristen VanderHorst (Olivia); Neil and Kimberley VanderHorst (Emma, Rebecca, Claira, and Grace); Sigrid Stefanson and Brad Sawa (Bergi and Bjorn); James Henson and Leah Kemppainen; Nicole Henson and Shaun Cockburn; Ian Tuckey; Owen and Andrea Tuckey.
Vern Johnson was the oldest of seven children born to Swedish immigrants on 27 August, 1925 in Eriksdale, Manitoba. He joined the army as a trooper at the age of 17 in 1942, served on the home front as a radio operator in armoured cars, and later transferred on to the Air Force in 1943. Vern certified on aerial and was commissioned in November of 1944 as a Pilot Officer and sent to pre-flight school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After the war, Vern worked with the CPR as an agent operator (telegraph) and re-joined the military in March of 1956 as a Lieutenant and served in Search and Rescue in Manitoba and Labrador. He retired as a Captain in 1974 finishing his career in Air Traffic Control.
Vernon and Laura married February 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and this was their 68th year of marriage. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors and never said no to a good game of curling or cribbage.
A celebration of Vern’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No.15, 114 – 5th Avenue West, Cochrane, with a Reception to follow. Graveside service and interment will commence at 2:00 P.M. at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens (Lower Springbank Road and the corner of 17th Avenue S.W. Calgary).
In lieu of flowers, If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Vern’s memory may be made directly to the Calgary Poppy Fund – #1, 4539 – 6th Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 3Z6 or www.calgarypoppyfund.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Otto Vernon Johnson, please visit our flower store.
Vern Johnson of Cochrane, AB passed away peacefully of old age on Monday November 25, 2013 with his family by his side at 88 years of age.
Vern is survived by his wife Laura Johnson (nee Penrice), four daughters and their families: Linda and Fritz Kobza of Canal Flats, BC; Charlotte Henson of Cochrane, AB;
Catherine and Derek Green of Billericay, Essex, UK; and Ingrid Johnson and Cory Rushford of Calgary, AB. Vern is predeceased by his eldest daughter, Carolyn Stefanson.
He is also survived by seven grandchildren and their families: Christopher and Kristen VanderHorst (Olivia); Neil and Kimberley VanderHorst (Emma, Rebecca, Claira, and Grace); Sigrid Stefanson and Brad Sawa (Bergi and Bjorn); James Henson and Leah Kemppainen; Nicole Henson and Shaun Cockburn; Ian Tuckey; Owen and Andrea Tuckey.
Vern Johnson was the oldest of seven children born to Swedish immigrants on 27 August, 1925 in Eriksdale, Manitoba. He joined the army as a trooper at the age of 17 in 1942, served on the home front as a radio operator in armoured cars, and later transferred on to the Air Force in 1943. Vern certified on aerial and was commissioned in November of 1944 as a Pilot Officer and sent to pre-flight school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After the war, Vern worked with the CPR as an agent operator (telegraph) and re-joined the military in March of 1956 as a Lieutenant and served in Search and Rescue in Manitoba and Labrador. He retired as a Captain in 1974 finishing his career in Air Traffic Control.
Vernon and Laura married February 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and this was their 68th year of marriage. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors and never said no to a good game of curling or cribbage.
A celebration of Vern’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No.15, 114 – 5th Avenue West, Cochrane, with a Reception to follow. Graveside service and interment will commence at 2:00 P.M. at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens (Lower Springbank Road and the corner of 17th Avenue S.W. Calgary).
In lieu of flowers, If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Vern’s memory may be made directly to the Calgary Poppy Fund – #1, 4539 – 6th Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 3Z6 or www.calgarypoppyfund.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Otto Vernon Johnson, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 6
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors