ANDREW REGINALD JOHNSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ANDREW REGINALD JOHNSON January 1, 1932 - April 25, 2005 Andy was born in Winnipeg to William and Rose (Bertrand) Johnson in 1932. Prizes for New Year's babies were sparse and the newspapers wrote gentleman makes way for lady as a little girl was also born that day. That was the beginning of the story of Andy. Always a gentleman, soft spoken and kind. He graduated from Daniel McIntyre and began an office career at Canada Packers, leaving there after several years to start his own delivery service doing heavy industrial deliveries for Gescan until his health no longer permitted in 1987. He was an active member of the Winnipeg Badminton Club and the Winnipeg Canoe Club. He cherished all the wonderful friendships he made there and reminisced about the great barbecues, tennis weekends and especially the epic Clear Lake. He was a natural athlete and although he enjoyed golf, curling and badminton, tennis was his favourite. In 1962 he met Evelyn at the Badminton Club and after a five year courtship they were married on August 12, 1967. They shared twelve years of marriage - fishing almost every weekend in Dryden and other remote lakes, tennis, parties and a really good time until Parkinsons took over his body. He never complained or even acknowledged the things he couldn't do anymore. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1977 and he fought the good fight. Even though speaking and swallowing were difficult, he managed to tell his Corny jokes and usually had a pun or two to add to conversations. Andy and Ev started out in Silver Heights and had a great fifteen years there before finding Andy's dream spot just outside of Anola. Here Andy was content to feed all his birds and herd of deer. He also enjoyed the cottage and the great people that he met there. He had just been admitted to Kin Place Personal Care Home, March 21, 2005. Many thanks to his home care workers Laura and Anita who helped in his care and for his wife over the years. He will be so deeply missed by his wife Evelyn; and step-son Les. He was predeceased by his father, mother; brothers-in-law, Art and Carson; nieces, Maureen and Dale; and the nephews, Barry and Larry. He will be loving remembered by his brother Bill (Margaret); seven sisters, Rose, Dorothy (John), Pat, Evelyn, Louise (Gerry), Thelma (Nick) of Dryden and Shirley (Mike) of Hawksbury, ON; and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved. In accordance with Andy's wishes, he has been cremated and no formal service will be held. A gathering of relatives and friends will take place in the Fort Garry Reception Centre at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd., on Saturday, April 30 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. If friends so desire donations may be made to The Parkinson Foundation of Canada, 390 Bay St., #710, P.O. Box 19341 Toronto, ON M7Y 3M1 or the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3A 1S1. May Angels sing thee to thy rest Love Ya, Hon THOMSON IN THE PARK Funeral Home and Cemetery 1291 McGillivray Blvd - 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 30, 2005