Kenneth William Johnson
March 7, 1930 ~ February 7, 2021
Kenneth William Johnson, age 90, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021, surrounded by family. He was born March 7, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Swedish immigrants. He graduated from Muskogee High School as a basketball star, then went on to receive his civil engineering degree from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State. After working his way across the ocean on a freighter to visit family in Sweden, he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to SCARWAF (Special Category Army Reassigned with Air Force) in France, then Germany, where he met his wife. After the service he joined Peter Kiewit & Sons as a civil engineer, working in the marine division on such projects as the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the St. Lucie Power Plant, the Ashtabula Harbor Project and the Cleveland break wall.
After retirement he moved to Wisconsin to fulfill his dream of having a small farm. In 1997, he and his wife moved to Perry, Ohio to be near family. During his life he served the Lutheran Church as an Elder, Trustee, and Usher; he loved traveling through the United States and Europe visiting family. He was a lifelong Packers fan and he loved to sing.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Emma (Seifried); his 6 children, Ingrid (Frank) Petrus, Suzanne (Mark) DuBois, Caroline Bower, Kenneth (Kristi) Johnson, Erik Johnson, and Christopher Johnson; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all who loved him.
Friends and Family will be received 12pm-1pm, Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Behm Family Funeral Home, 26 River St., Madison, with Memorial Service immediately following at 1pm.
Final Resting Place will be Perry Cemetery.
Behm Family Funeral Home of Madison is assisting the family. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com
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We are grateful for Ken linking our families together. He came to Sweden and found long lost family. He had a gentle personality and meeting him was wonderful. We were impressed that he still spoke and wrote in Swedish. A language he had not used since he was a child. He often talked about his family with pride and joy. Dear Ken, you are missed! Sov gott! We would like to express our condolences to Kens family and friends. Love.
In memory of Kenneth William Johnson, Carol Brainard lit a candle
I am very sad to hear of Kens passing .He was a wonderful man , so caring and thoughtful. he will be missed. your friend Carol Brainard