REGINALD DOUGLAS JOHNSON

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REGINALD DOUGLAS JOHNSON May 10, 1935 - May 17, 2010 With a deep sense of loss, but a profound gratitude for the years we had with him, we announce the passing of our dear Reggie at the Health Sciences Centre. He was proud of his Scandinavian heritage and was predeceased by his parents Vera Daisy Berg (Swedish) and his father Mattias Arnberg Johnson (Icelandic). When he was with Swedish friends, he was a Swede, and when with Icelanders, he was Icelandic. He loved his wife of 53 years, Nancy, and his children Karen (Wes) Stewart, Patty (Glen) Antoniak, Joanne (Keith) Loughery and Susan (Drew) Lockhart. He adored his funny and vibrant grandchildren, Mark and David Loughery, Leah and Johnny Crockett and Matt and Will Stewart. He is also survived by his brother Warren (Doreen) Johnson, his sister Doreen Young, and his in-laws Peter (Geri) Spencer, Hugh (Willie) Spencer, Tim (Elly) Spencer and their families. Above all, Reg loved family and family events and treasured his many friendships. There was nothing he enjoyed more than parties and dinners with lots of people around. He showed his love for his daughters and grandchildren with the beautiful furniture he created for them. His woodworking skills were legendary and he could fix almost anything. Reg was inquisitive and always wanted to find out how something worked. He enjoyed developing accounting systems and spreadsheets, and had a knack for helping people understand complex details in simple terms. His 25 years at Cargill were the highlight of his working career, made most interesting because of the interaction with his colleagues. As a millennium event, Reggie took all of the family to Disney World for two weeks. It is a memory we will always treasure. His second millennium project was a four bedroom and veranda addition on the Victoria Beach cabin. Reg acted as project manager and chief contractor and taught his assistants (his daughters and sons-in-law) his many carpentry skills and tricks. It was a labour of love and has been a haven for all of us over the past 10 years. On his many travels, Reg loved to collect ducks and they are everywhere in our apartment. We have traveled to many destinations but have always come home to our favourites, Winnipeg and Victoria Beach. He was an outstanding volunteer throughout his life, starting as one of the co-founders of the Charleswood Youth Soccer program. He coached, refereed and kept the books. Through the years, any project Nancy participated in, Reg got deeply involved. He delivered giant colouring books all around the city, worked on a cancer calendar and many other cancer related charities. Since retirement, Reg acted as accounting chair and project manager for Creative Retirement's move and renovations. He was the finance chair of the volunteer committee, to the WAG, accounting for the White Cross Guild Thrift shop, business manager for the Victoria Beach Herald and accountant for A Port in the Storm. He also developed a keen interest in genealogy and has discovered ancestors that we never knew existed. He has established links with cousins in Sweden and has also researched family trees for friends. Reggie was one of two honorary male members of the Class of 1957B from the Winnipeg General Hospital and has helped organize all of our reunions. Thanks are owed to so many wonderful people: Dr. Grant Bennigen and nursing staff of the Health Action Centre, Dr. James Johnston and the CancerCare and chemo staff who have made the last seven months more bearable, the Gold surgery team at Health Sciences Centre, Dianne in Physio, the S.I.C.U. and D3 step-down unit and staff. A special thanks to Kasey who re-affirmed our faith in nursing, and Krystal who wrapped me in warm blankets. Finally, thanks to our dear and wonderful friends for all of your many kindnesses, we are truly blessed to have you in our lives. Funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Anglican Church at 3830 Roblin Boulevard on Friday, May 21 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Nancy Fund (c/o the CancerCare Foundation), 1160-675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg MB R3E 0V9 or A Port in the Storm, 161 Rue Grandin, Winnipeg MB R2H 0A8. Condolences: www.bardal.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 20, 2010