Robert Eugene Johnson

Robert “Bob” Eugene Johnson, 83, of St. Joseph passed away Sunday, June 10, 2012 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will be held at a later date at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Lakeland Home Care or the USS Turner Joy/Bremerton Historic Ships Association (BHSA). Those wishing to share a memory of Bob online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bob was born September 11, 1928 in Watervliet, MI to Philip S. & Mary (Bakos) Johnson. On April 17, 1951 he married Catherine Phairas in Greenville, Mississippi they were married 48 years. Bob served 22 years in the US. Navy, entering in June of 1946 after graduation from Benton Harbor High School. He was an instructor of Radar at Treasure Island, Calif., seen sea service aboard the cruiser Topeka, Destroyer Hamner and Hazelwood and repair ship Ajax and USS Turner Joy. Then he became an NROTC Instructor at Purdue University until retirement on June 24, 1968. Bob than worked for 20 years at Benton Harbor Engineering upon retirement from the Navy. Bob was a loyal White Sox fan and enjoyed fishing as a member of the Southwest Michigan Steel headers and a member of the Spectacles Retirement group Bob was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph. Bob is survived by his daughters Stacie White of St. Joseph and Barbara (Dana) Bahm of Mattawan; son-in-law Fred Haase; 8 grandchildren Charles (Connie) DeGraaf , Sarah Johnson, Helen Haase, George (Jennifer) Bahm, Carrie White, Rachel Bahm, Joshua (Melissa) Haase, and Laura White; 11 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Emma Johnson, wife, and daughter Diann Haase.