Ronald Roger Johnson

Ronald Roger Johnson, age 78, passed peacefully on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Bronson Commons in Mattawan, Michigan. Ron was born on December 21, 1945, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to Maris (Fisher) and David Johnson. Ron was a resident of Paw Paw, Michigan. On June 12, 1965, Ron married his high school sweetheart, Leila (Nordman) Johnson, who survives. Also surviving to cherish his memory are his daughter, Malinda (Ken) Dickens of Lawrence, MI and son, Brian Johnson of Cassopolis, MI, sister, Norma Deemer of Traverse City, MI, brother, Thomas Johnson of Elkhart, IN and six grandchildren, Chelsea (Matt) Crowley of Pittsburgh, PA, Kyle Dickens of Kalamazoo, MI, Kaela (Zander) Armstrong of Alamo, MI, Krystal (Alex) Watson of Colorado Springs, CO and Katelyn Dickens of Colorado Springs, CO. Ron was preceded in death by one sister and six brothers. 

Ron was an avid fisherman and a notorious storyteller. He found joy in teaching young people to fish and showing them the best spots. He passed many fishing skills down to his granddaughter, whom he called his "Kookie". Ron's stories were famous to all who knew him. He often told stories of growing up in a little cabin in Benzie County or of playing basketball. Most prevalent were his fishing stories, in which there was no need to elaborate as his fishing skills were unsurpassed. His most loved fishing spots were in Benzie County, including the Betsie and Platte Rivers. Ron enjoyed spending time with his friends and family and was commonly the spotlight of entertainment. Ron was an excellent gardener and enjoyed being in nature, often referring to the lake as his church. His larger-than-life personality, along with his stature, earned him the nickname, "Moose". Ron was a former employee of Elkhart Products Corporation, where he worked as a millwright. 

Funeral services will be held on January 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 63855 N M-40 Highway, Lawton, MI 49065. A celebration of life gathering will be held on June 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at his daughter's home in Lawrence, MI. Memorial contributions may be directed to United Christian Services or Eleanor's Pantry.