Charles "Chuck" Johnson

Charles “Chuck” Johnson, born July 9, 1942, to Carl and Ruth Johnson in Shelbyville, Illinois, passed away at the age of 82 on October 28th, 2024. When Chuck was 5 years old, his family moved from Illinois to the old Freeman family homestead in Keeline, Wyoming. The family moved into the same house built by his grandfather, David Walker Freeman, in the early 1900’s. After renovating the old family homestead house, the family learned how to live in the wilderness of Wyoming, having moved from a large city, Decatur, Illinois, to a remote area of Wyoming without electricity or running water. Chuck attended a two room school house with two teachers and a total of 28 children in the elementary school. In 1956, Chuck’s father, Carl Huberton Johnson, gave up the farm and the family moved to Casper, Wyoming. In 1957, Chuck and his parents moved to Providence, Utah, as his sisters, Marilyn and Ruth, had moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and bought a home in Providence for Chuck and his parents. Chuck’s brother, Carl, had enlisted and was serving in the US Air Force at the time. Chuck graduated from South Cache High School, Hyrum, Utah, in 1960 and began attending Utah State University in Logan, Utah. His college attendance was interrupted twice…serving a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and active duty time while serving in the US Army National Guard during the Viet Nam War. Chuck married his first wife, Janice Leavitt, in 1965, and had a daughter, Michelle, in 1967. Chuck graduated from Utah State in 1967 and subsequently moved to California. Following a divorce, Chuck married the love of his life, Marlene Adele Brown, in 1969, and began a wonderful marriage lasting 55 years. They had a son, David Wayne Johnson, adopted Lisa Marie Johnson, a child of Marlene’s, and raised five additional children that Marlene had by a previous marriage, with the oldest being Steve, Debbie, Scott, Kathie, and James, the family consisting of seven children. Chuck and Marlene worked for the State of California, Chuck employed by the Department of Real Estate as a Deputy Real Estate Commissioner for 9 years and then employed as a Senior Special Investigator for the Department of Motor Vehicles for 20 years. Chuck was an avid sports fan, playing baseball in high school, and in California playing fast pitch softball, coaching youth basketball teams, and officiating High School football, baseball, and basketball games. In 1983, Chuck and Marlene began a new passion of playing golf. As a California Peace Officer, Chuck participated in the annual California Police Summer Games, playing in 3 day golf tournaments, winning a gold medal, a silver medal, and three bronze medals. Upon retirement, in 2005, Chuck and Marlene moved to Silverton, Oregon, to be near their son, David, daughter-in-law Heidi, and their two youngest grandchildren, Josh and Amy. They loved the Willamette Valley of Oregon with its close proximity to both the ocean and the mountains. In 2006, Chuck went back to work part-time for the Police Department in Stayton, Oregon where he was employed till June, 2009. Chuck and Marlene became Associate Members of the Woodburn Estates and Golf Community in Woodburn, Oregon, in 2007, playing well over 100 rounds of golf per year. This passion for golf led to them selling their home in Silverton in 2011 and moving to a home in the Woodburn Estates & Golf Community (WEG). While living in WEG, Chuck served in the Men’s Golf Club as Secretary for many years and was twice elected to the Board of Directors where he served as the Homeowners Association Treasurer. During this time, Chuck developed numerous friends and enjoyed the benefits of living in a great Senior Community with numerous common area amenities. Chuck was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many callings, including the Bishopric, High Council, Ward and Stake Athletic Director, Sunday School Teacher, Ward Missionary, Ward Mission Leader, High Priest Group Leader, and Home Teacher. Chuck loved music and humor, incorporating humor when he spoke in Church or taught Sunday School classes. His love for his sweet wife, Marlene, increased during their many years of marriage. They loved their family, friends, and their two toy poodles, Aspen and Buddy. Chuck had infinite faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and viewed his own mortal death as an exciting “rebirth” into the next life. Chuck is survived by his wife, Marlene, brother Carl Johnson, sister Ruth Jackson, daughters Michelle Tanner (Keith) and Lisa VanDyke (Tom), son David Johnson (Heidi), stepsons Steve Marler, James Marler, stepdaughter Debbie Schweitz, grandchildren Krystal Cade, Deniele Cassarubia, Ashley Johnson, Brittney Tanner, Ryan Tanner, Joshua Johnson, Amy Leder, Steve Marler, Paul Duplantier, Bobby Duplantier, Aubrey Nikki Purtill, Brian Marler, Jason Jarrett, Matthew Jarrett, Danny Marler and 14 great grandchildren. Chuck was predeceased in death by his sister Marilyn Paulsen, stepchildren Kathie Tabor and Scott Marler. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 9th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church, Woodburn, OR, at 10:00 am. Chuck will be buried in the Belle Passi Cemetery in Woodburn, OR. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their love, support, and prayers during this time.

Tributes

Charles "Chuck" Johnson

July 9, 1942 - October 28, 2024