Obituary: Johnson, Dennis Merle
JOHNSON, Dennis Merle
Dennis Merle Johnson passed away peacefully at home on May 2, 2013, after a courageous 2 Ă‚Ë?
year battle with prostate cancer.
Dennis was born on December 12, 1934, in the small Iowa town of George to Frank and Gretchen Johnson.
He married his life-long love and companion, Wilma Elaine Voeltz, on October 1, 1955.
Together they settled in Spokane, Washington, where Dennis was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Dennis served four years in the Air Force from 1953 until 1957 as a Staff Sergeant.
He also worked for Big West Oil Company from 1957 until 1962 and then the Air National Guard at Fairchild from 1962 until retiring in 1990 as a Master Sergeant.
During this time he raised a beautiful family of four girls and a boy.
Dennis was a very active guy.
He was a member of the Collectors of Jim Beam Club, the National Rifle Association, and served on the Seven Bays Estates Board of Directors.
Dennis additionally served as the Assistant Fire Chief of the Seven Bays Volunteer Fire Department.
He also helped coach his son’s Little League Baseball Team.
Dennis loved golfing with his wife, son, and son-in-law, fishing on Lake Roosevelt, woodworking at his home shop, morning coffee with the fellas, lunches with his booster club and most of all, visiting with his large family and many friends and neighbors at his beloved home in Seven Bays, where he and Wilma moved permanently in 1994.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Gretchen Johnson and his sisters Donna Bennett and Luella Turner.
He is survived by his loving wife Wilma Johnson of Seven Bays, Washington, and their five loving children: Jean Crook (Dean), Judy Reynolds (David), of Spokane, Washington; Joan Curtis (Greg) of Richland, Washington; James Johnson (Alisa), of Deer Park, Washington; and Jill Barrett of Spokane Valley, Washington.
Dennis is also survived by his brothers Marlin Johnson (Jeannie) and Carson Johnson, and sister Carol Andrews (Don), and all his adoring grandchildren.
Dennis was a friend to anyone and everyone, never turned down a person in need, and was the kindest of human beings.
He enjoyed watching sports and westerns and loved to tell a good story, but would be equally intrigued in hearing one told to him.
He was warm of heart, honest of soul, and true of spirit.
He was truly the epitome of a good man.
We will miss you tremendously Dennis, Dad, Grandpa.
Your suffering has ended and you now have found eternal peace in Heaven.
You will be forever in our hearts.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of Cancer Care Northwest, St. Joseph Transitional Care Center and Assured Hospice.
A memorial service will be held on May 10, 2013, at 11:00 am, at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, Washington.
The family asks friends to join them at a reception/no host lunch following the memorial, at the Longhorn Barbeque, 7611 W. Sunset Hwy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to Assured Hospice of Moses Lake, 1417 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, Washington, 98837, or Cancer Care Northwest, 601 S. Sherman St., Spokane, Washington, 99202.