Gordon Roy Johnson

Gordon Roy Johnson The last member of a pioneer Felch family, Gordon Roy Johnson, has died at the age of 101 on November 14, 2015 at Hyland Nursing Home in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Gordon was born on January 28, 1914 on the home farm in Metropolitan, Michigan. He was of Swede-Finn ancestry and was the son of Erick “Lussi” Johnson and Maria Ovist Andersdotter each of whom immigrated to the United States from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland. Erick and Maria had ten children, eight of whom lived to adulthood. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers John, Alfred, Evald and Ruben (who died in childhood), and by his sisters Maria Elvira (who also died in childhood), Ellen, Adelia, Mildred and Ruth. After attending school in Felch and farming with his father and brothers, Gordon joined other young men from the Felch area in Detroit to find work in the automobile industry. During that time the United States was in the midst of a severe depression and the only available jobs were in Lower Michigan. His brother John and sisters Mildred and Ruth and their husbands also moved nearby. When World War II began, Gordon joined what is now known as the Greatest Generation, serving his country as a soldier in the South Pacific. Following the end of the war, Gordon returned to the USA, living and working in the Pacific Northwest, and then returning to the Detroit area. As his father’s health began to fail, Gordon was asked to come back to the UP to help with the dairy farm that Erick and sons Alfred and Evald were operating. Together the three brothers and their father raised prize Holstein cattle and processed milk for retail sales. On June 1, 1957 Gordon married Irma Saven in a ceremony at the old Presbyterian Church in Iron Mountain. Gordon and Irma had a special relationship spending much of their lives sharing in gardening, camping, visiting family and working together on projects. They were both active in Zion Lutheran Church in Metropolitan (Felch) where Gordon’s parents were among the earliest members. Gordon served on the Zion Church Council and along with Irma, served as Zion’s representatives to the Synod Assemblies. As requirements for milk processing became too stringent for a dairy operation of their size, Gordon and his brothers turned more and more to potato farming. They continued this operation for many years until Gordon finally retired in 1977. After retirement, Gordon and Irma traveled all over the world, visiting many nations on nearly every continent. During that time Gordon also enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends and his nephews. Gordon was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Volunteer Fire Department, the Eastern Dickinson Sportsmen’s Club, the Dickinson County Fair Board and the Board of Directors for the Felch Cooperative. He is well remembered for his work with young men and women in Agriculture through the 4-H and FFA. He is also well remembered for his faithful serving as Chaplain of the Felch VFW where, among other duties, offered the prayer annually at the Memorial Day Services at the Felch Cemetery. As their health began to decline, Gordon and Irma left their large home across the road from Zion Lutheran Church in Metropolitan and moved to Victoria Pines in Iron Mountain. After 52 years of marriage, Irma died in 2010. Gordon was very close to his nieces and nephews and is survived by David (Phyllis) Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Rose Marie (Dale) Siegler, Roger (Trish) Blomquist, Phyllis Olin, Kenneth Gustafson, and Patricia Craft along with many great nieces and nephews. He will long be remembered for the positive influence on their lives. The family would also like to express their gratitude to the Hyland Nursing Home for the fine care they gave Gordon. Visitation will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Metropolitan on Wednesday, November 18, from 10 a.m.until 11:00 a.m. with a service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Lee Liverance and Pastor Kevin Sullivan.. Burial will be at Felch Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Zion Lutheran Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Gordon Roy Johnson online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral home with the funeral arrangements.

Gordon Roy Johnson

January 28, 1914 - November 14, 2015