Kenneth George Johnson, 82 years old, passed away at home on July 8th, 2013. He was born in Appleton, WI, September 10, 1930 to Oscar and Marcella Johnson. He was raised in Menasha, WI and was a three sport letterman graduating from Menasha High School in 1948. He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and graduated from Ripon College in 1952 where he met the love of his life Gertrude Powell. After completing his Army ROTC commitment they were married in 1954 and had three children while living in Neenah, WI.
In the early 1960s Ken resumed active status in US Army and he and the family spent the next decade at multiple military locations including Ft Carson, CO; Ft Knox, KY; the Panama Canal Zone; the University Missouri at Rolla where Ken taught ROTC and the Yakima Army Reserve Center. Ken served two tours in Vietnam and following the post-Viet Nam reduction in forces he left active duty and later retired at the rank of Lt Col from the Army Reserve Corp. The Johnson family settled in Yakima in 1971 where Ken worked as an independent insurance agent and income tax preparer. The family owned a large home on 28th Ave and Chestnut for 40 years.
During his 40 years in Yakima Ken’s character was demonstrated through an impressive record of community service. His greatest passion was for the Kiwanis Club. He was an active member and officer in the Kamiakin and West Valley Kiwanis clubs. He was three times elected Division 50 Lt Governor. A life time member of the United Church of Christ, he attended and served on multiple committees for the Yakima United Christian Church. He was also very active in local, regional and statewide ecumenical organizations. Ken was a mason and shriner with Yakima Masonic Lodge and the Masada Shrine Center. He did food deliveries for the Yakima Food Bank for over 20 years.
Ken was preceeded in death by his wife, Gert of 49 years. He is survived by son Kevin and wife Dianne of Brooklyn, NY; daughter Karin and husband John Hogg of Kennewick; son Mark and wife Marcy of Yakima; grandchildren Tyler, Brett and Sierra Hogg and Bradley Johnson and step-grandchildren Dereck Nelson, Desiree Nelson-Clark and Danell Shafer.
Visitation will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday July 12th and a memorial service will be held at the Christian Life Center, 716 N 40th Ave at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 13th. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton, WI. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Yakima Food Bank c/o Keith and Keith Funeral Home.
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