Jerry Allen Johnson
Jerry Allen Johnson, believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, dedicated husband, loving father, beloved friend, cherished papa and great papa passed away peacefully on January 12, 2023 at the age of 78.
Jerry was born in Benton Harbor, MI
on November 18, 1944 to Emery (Bill) Elwood and Beulah Fern Johnson.
He was raised in Dexter, Oregon where he graduated from Pleasant Hill High School. He then went on to join the US Marines and serve until 1966, during the Vietnam War. Jerry was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California. While on leave with his childhood friend John Leister, he met Mary Elaine McNutt at a party they attended. Jerry and Mary Elaine began dating and were married on February 19, 1966, after Jerry completed his service in the military. The couple honeymooned on their way up to Dexter, Oregon where the two of them eventually had two children, Tina born January 1, 1973 and Bill born June 17, 1974.
In 1976, Jerry and his family bought a house and moved to Springfield, Oregon where they raised their children to adulthood and enjoyed several years of retirement.
Jerry spent 32 years working for Weyerhaeuser. He began with sorting wood and working as a crane operator in 1966. It didn’t take long before he was hired by the company to work in the electronic repair shop. Jerry retired from the electronic repair shop at Weyerhaeuser in 1998, and after a brief retirement, he went to work for Marathon Coach before starting his own business of installing appliances.
Jerry enjoyed jogging, going for walks, biking, hiking, playing cards, fixing things and tinkering with his computers. While fixing anything with electricity, he got a laugh out of pretending he was getting shocked just to watch our reaction. Jerry loved to joke around and be silly, often singing silly little songs. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife in their little RV to visit family and spend time with friends.
Jerry is survived by his wife, two children, seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, with another on the way.
His body has been laid to rest at Springfield Memorial Gardens, 7305 Main St. Springfield, Oregon.
There will be a Celebration of Life held at East Side Baptist church, 4045 Commercial Ave. in Springfield, Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 1-3:30pm. Flowers can be sent to the church.