William Edward Johnson

William E. Johnson, 77, of St. Joseph, passed away, Saturday, August 11, 2007 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph with Msgr. Michael Osborn officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Liturgical Prayers recited at 7:30 P.M. Memorials donations may be to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Lakeland Oncology Infusion Department. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Johnson was born September 19, 1929 in St. Joseph to Christian “C.M.” & Elizabeth (Garlanger) Johnson. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1947, and served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, stationed in Germany. On September 10, 1960, he married the former Corinne Ellis in Montrose, CA. Following in his father’s foot steps, he worked for his father “CM”, Johnson Construction for several years. He then went to bricklayer school, and then joined the Michigan Local #9 of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman Union, working both independently, and for several construction companies in the Twin Cities Area. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, The Knights of Columbus, and Stevensville American Legion Post #568. His passion was being a bricklayer, and his legacy is in all the buildings he created, from the St. Joseph Library, Lakeland Hospital, Lake Michigan College, The Mendel Center, Lakeshore Jr. High School, and many, many others to numerous to mention here. A devoted family man and loving father to his children, he was always there to help those in need. Bill touched many people’s lives, and will be missed by all that knew him. Bill is survived by his wife Corinne; two sons, Michael of St. Joseph, Bradley (Cathy) Johnson of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; four grandchildren, Nikki, Cameron, Hannah, & Natalie Johnson; brothers & sisters, Alice Schreiber of St. Joseph, Kenneth Johnson of St. Joseph, Leo (Ruth) Johnson of Benton Harbor, Chuck (Adeline) Johnson of Loveland, CO, Elizabeth “Betty” Bohm of Stevensville, Dolores (Bill) Frantz of St. Joseph, Richard “Dick” Johnson of St. Joseph; and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth Johnson, and by two brothers, Robert & Joseph Johnson.