Samuel Glenn Johnson's Obituary
Samuel Johnson Obituary
On Sunday August 2nd, we lost a man whose impact was as immense as his stature. Samuel Glenn Johnson passed peacefully at home after a short illness. He was 58. He was surrounded by his closest loved ones, passing with the courage and dignity that he often inspired in others. Glenn, as most people knew him, enjoyed his early childhood in an Appalachian Mountain town in Kentucky. As a small boy, he developed a love of nature through climbing, hiking, and wading in creeks and streams. When he was 5, his family moved to the west side of Elyria, the place where he would grow into a man. At age 12, Glenn was a core player on the 1969 Little League West all-star team that remarkably finished 3rd in the world. As a member of that team, he is included in the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame. As a multi-sport star during his middle and high school years, Glenn was a formidable force. He possessed a rare combination of quick reflexes, size, strength, coordination, durability, and a ruthless competitive drive. After a tryout to be a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, he was invited to their spring training in Florida. During the tryout, he was clocked throwing 93mph, the only pitch for which he would ever be tested. After lasting with team for a couple weeks in Florida, Glenn threw out his shoulder and decided to return home. In 1976, he met his eternal love, Cynthia Johnson. Glenn recognized the special nature of her kind, gentle, and forgiving spirit. They quickly began to build a life together and start a family. When their kids got older, they settled into a house on the north side of Elyria. This home would serve as kind of a neighborhood center, a place where kids gravitated to for fun, encouragement, and love. Glenn coached all of his sons in multiple sports, although baseball was the game he knew and loved the most. He was the coach for which everyone wanted to play. Mr. Johnson, as the kids knew him, coached for many years at Little League North. His positive, fun-loving coaching style, combined with his deep knowledge of the game, led to a lasting impact on many kids. Mr. Johnson would realize many successes as a coach, but more important to him than wins and losses, was the opportunity to instill confidence and raise the self-esteem of the kids under his tutelage. Later in life, what started out as a curiosity to explore his Native American roots, unfolded into finding a new way life. Through Native American literature, Glenn became immersed in the culture. This would lead him to discover one last talent; that of a master pipe maker. He refined his craft through hundreds of hours of intense work, becoming ever more proficient at carving the sacred Native American stone catlinite. For the second time in his life, he reached the world class level. Glenn's sacred pipes have reached all corners of the world. The culmination of Glenn's tireless effort and dedication to his craft was realized when the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., requested to display his artwork in their museum. The Mukwonago Museum in Wisconsin also houses his artwork. Glenn's love and reverence for the Native American culture inspired several cross country trips. He and his wife Cindy visited many Native American historical landmarks. They also participated in cultural events like pow wows and chuck wagons. Glenn was an avid reader, often focusing on books of psychological and spiritual significance. With this knowledge, he was able to share his wisdom and insight with younger generations. His greatest gift of all may have been his ability to relate to children. He was loved and adored by all of his 8 grandchildren. Glenn enjoyed nothing more than the time he shared with them. He is survived by his loving wife Cynthia Johnson (nee Wallhead); Sons, Brian (Jill) Johnson, Andrew (Jennifer) Johnson, Derrick Johnson, Wyatt Menges; Grandchildren, Ashlee, Kyle, Emma, Taven, Samuel, Aaron, Addyson and Cadence.A celebration of Glenns life will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Washington Avenue Christian Church, 301 Washington Ave, Elyria. Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
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