John H.W. Johnson, Sr., 78, of Silver Creek died Friday morning, February 10, 2017 at the Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Gowanda. He was born on October 19, 1938 in Conneaut, OH, the son of the late Harvey and Mary (Smith) Johnson.
John was graduate of Rowe High School, Class of 1956 in Conneaut, OH. He retired as a dispatcher for the N&W Railroad in Angola. He also worked for the Fayette Wood Products Co. in Brant and Angola as the plant supervisor and was employed by Alumax in Dunkirk.
His memberships included the Zion Lutheran Church of Silver Creek, the Beaver Club of Fredonia, where he enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle with Birdie and crew, the Dom Polski Club of Dunkirk, life member and former secretary of the Hanover Fish & Game Club, 49-year member of the Silver Lodge #757 F&AM in Silver Creek, the Firehouse on the Lake, former member of the Silver Creek Hose Co. #1 and the Fife & Drum Corp.; he played the fife.
When his boys were growing up, he was the Assistant Scout Master for the Sheridan Boy Scout Troop #243, Scout Master of the Silver Creek Sea Scouts, coached the Newbrook Little League baseball team in the 1960s. John was a passionate Cleveland Browns fan; he would wear their colors everywhere. In his free time, you can find him attending auctions in the area, always looking for a deal.
Surviving are his two sons, John H.W. (Carol) Johnson, Jr. of Lackawanna and Todd (Linda DeFries-Johnson) Johnson of Forestville; four grandsons, John H.W. (Christine) Johnson III, Nicholas (Brittany) Johnson, Michael Edmunds and Gavin DeFries; a great-grandson, Parker Johnson; and two great-granddaughters, Payton and Avery Johnson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Patricia A. Johnson, who died December 7, 2011; a brother, Clarence (Butch) Johnson; and a grandson, Jacob Richard.
Relatives and friends may call at the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Ave., Silver Creek on Sunday, February 12 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., from where funeral services will be held on Monday, February 13 at 11 a.m. Deacon Ned Lindstrom of the Zion Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will be private in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Memorials in John's memory may be made to the Silver Creek Fire Dept., 172 Central Ave., Silver Creek, NY 14136.
To share a remembrance or condolence for the family, go to www.holeparkerfc.com.
Obituary from the Observer
