Ernest “Ken” Johnson, age 92, passed away on November 28, 2022 after a short illness, while being cared for by hospice near his home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Ken was born June 28,1930 to Olga and Gunnar Johnson in Alingsas, Sweden. Ken was an only child and immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in his early childhood. Ken became a U.S. citizen in 1948, and served his country in the US Navy in Brockton, Massachusetts and the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Naval Base. Before going to college, Ken worked with his parents, who were florists, in Stoughton, Massachusetts and passed on his love for gardening to his children. Ken earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering degree at Drexel University. In 1954, Ken married Peggy Dykeman of Stoughton, Massachusetts and they enjoyed a life full of friends and family until Peggy passed away in 2014. Ken enjoyed many friends through his life’s journey, including neighbors and church communities in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania and Winterpark, Florida. Ken also enjoyed a rich group of friends and colleagues in a career as a mechanical engineer for Westinghouse Corporation that spanned 45 years. Ken was especially proud of his 20 year affiliation with the Newtown (PA) Edgemont Little League, including coaching a Little League team to a third place finish at the Little League World Series in 1967. In 2012, he and Peggy moved to the South Franklin independent living community in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where Ken continued to make new friendships after Peggy passed away. He considered himself a caregiver and prioritized being a loving and dependable friend. Ken is survived by his son Ken Jr. (Denise) of Novelty, Ohio; daughter Michele Finley (Mark) of Spokane, Washington; son Scott (Susan) of Wilmington, Delaware; son Rod (Lucy) of Seattle, Washington; as well as 10 grandchildren Ryan, Kaitlin, Eric, Sean, Kyle, Nicole, Kelly, Roth, Corey, and Maya; and 8 great grandchildren Joey, Brayden, Finley, Elexa, Bryce, Arthur, Eloise, and Aiden. The family would like to thank the hospice staff of Hillcrest Hospital for their care of Ken and Pastor Robert Henderson along with the members of Lord of Life Lutheran Church for creating a special place that Ken loved being a part of over the years. Visitation will take place from 10 – 11am on Monday December 12th, 2022 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 17989 Chillicothe Road, Auburn Township, Ohio 44023, where Funeral Service will be held at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to a memorial fund established in Ken’s memory at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 17989 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023.
