Ivan C. "Skip" Johnson's Obituary
Ivan Johnson Obituary
Ivan Clifford Skip Johnson, 86, of Elyria, died Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Kingston Residence of Sylvania.A lifelong resident of Elyria and a 1943 graduate of Elyria High School, he immediately joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the destroyer John D. Henley (DD553) in WWII until it was decommissioned in 1946, earning the American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (5 bronze stars), Philippine Liberation Ribbon (1 Star) and the Victory Medal.He earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana, graduating in 1949 as president of the senior class and was a member of the engineering fraternity Sigma Phi Delta, Kappa Chapter. He was employed for 39 years at Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, retiring as Engineering Manager in 1990.Skip was a member and usher at St. Jude Church in Elyria, life member of Elyria V.F.W. #1079, Elyria American Legion Post 12, Elyria Moose Club #778 and Lorain County Retired Teachers Association He was a trustee of Lorain County Historical Society and Lorain County Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society, a member of the First Families of Lorain County and a volunteer in the AARP/IRS tax-aide program. He was a former member of the Elyria Elks Club, Elyria Jaycees and Friends of the Elyria Public Library. He enjoyed most kinds of music, history, traveling, dancing and was interested in sports, coaching the American Legion Elyria Little League team to three city championships in 1951, 52, 53. He and his wife were members of the Elyria Cottillian Club, serving as president and also dance committee chairman.He enjoyed his grandchildren and repairing and refinishing antique furniture and restoring Lyman wooden boats.Survivors include his son Mark B. Johnson of Toledo; grandchildren: Sarah, Paul, Kathryn and Nathaniel and many nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his father Harley Yost Cappy Johnson in 1952 and his mother Esther Kathryn (nee Krebs) Johnson in 1988; his wife Geraldine M. (Birkline) in 2000 and sons Todd Ivan in 1994 and Tyler Yost in 2010.Friends will be received Friday, June 1, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Dicken Funeral Home, 323 Middle Ave. Elyria. A funeral mass will be Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jude Church, 590 Poplar St., Elyria with Reverend Frank P. Kosem as the celebrant. Burial will be at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman, OH.Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donors choice. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
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