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.