VERNON JOHNSON
Vernon “SWEDE” Johnson Jan 21, 1941 to Sept 29, 2012 Resident of Rodeo, CA (formerly of McCook, NE) Swede passed away peacefully from ALS in the arms of his loving wife, Susan. He was born in McCook, NE, graduated in 1959 from McCook High School, but never lost the desire to learn. He was a man with the sweetest disposition; the warmest smile; the happiest disposition (ALWAYS); the most genuine person I have ever met; unfailingly understanding; a control freak in the best sense; the luckiest man in the world (he would tell you) and my (much) better half; a Raider faithful through good times and very bad; loved his family, extended family and friends for life; be in tears while picking out a mushy greeting card and a sentimental softy with a poetic heart. Our daughter, Sarah, summed it up perfectly “A Portrait of a Great Man”. He was admired and loved by all who knew him and the void will be hard to fill. He was preceded in death by his father Harvey Johnson, his mother Opal (Brewer) Buckannan, his brothers Leonard and Jerry Johnson, his sister Charlotte Johnson and his first wife Kay (Paddock) Johnson. He remarried and is survived by his wife Susan (Perkins-Bastian), brother Sonny Johnson of Berkley, IA, children Gavin Johnson of Ft. Bragg, CA and January Johnson of Oxford, IA, step-children James York (Jen) of Paradise, CA and Sarah Chrivia (Michael) of Moron Air Base, Spain, grandchildren Kent and Dylon Thompson; Alycia and Jamison Chrivia; Jaden and Joshua York, and numerous nieces and nephews. He loved being Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Swede. In 1967 he joined the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Department, made Captain in 1970, hated to retire in 1992, but remained close to his RHFD family. He was an active Officer in the Odd Fellows; a life member of the Chester Gamehogs; retired from the Rodeo Sanitation Bd an elected Director on Rodeo-Hercules Fire Board from 1992 – 2006. He would shout “Livet „r bra” (Swedish for Life is Good), and mean it. His passions also included hunting, camping, diving, photography, fighting fires, genealogy and traveling the World. He lived for today because tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed. He would talk to anyone near him, so made friends everywhere he went.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/obituaries/vernon-johnson/
