Wayne Allen Johnson, 90, of LaPorte, passed away peacefully at Brentwood on February 12, 2013. He was born September 30, 1922, in Tangent, Oregon, to Floyd and Selma (Moomaw) Johnson.
Wayne held a Bachelor of Science degree from Manchester College and a Master of Science degree from Purdue University. He taught physics at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana, and from 1960 until 1973 at LaPorte High School. To provide for his large family, he also became a building contractor, real estate broker and licensed plumber and was co-owner of Modern Home Service construction company for many years—“It’s all just applied physics,” he would say. A 51-year resident of LaPorte, Wayne served on the LaPorte Community Schools Board of Trustees from 1976-1984, and as its president in 1981. He was a member of LaPorte Missionary Church. He was also a member of LaPorte County Association of Home Builders, LaPorte Aero Club, and LaPorte Camera and Travel Club, serving terms as president of each. In addition, he was a member of Wycliffe Associates and of the United Flying Octogenerians.
Wayne was deeply devoted to his family and often publicly proclaimed his pride in each of his children. A natural teacher, he loved to pass on practical knowledge, whether teaching his children how to water-ski, sons-in-law how to repair something, or grandchildren how to play Hearts. He helped each of his children build or remodel their homes. He was a “Mr. Fix-It” who gave generously of his time and skills to many. He regularly volunteered his skills to serve missionaries. In 1952 Wayne earned his private pilot’s license and never lost his love of flying. He had no fear of heights and scampered across rafters with his arms full of building materials. With a strong adventurous spirit, he bungee-jumped, para-sailed, and ziplined in his seventies. He traveled extensively and enjoyed camping, boating, and water-skiing. He was an incredible man with an honorable legacy of hard work, self-discipline, service, and strong faith, which will reverberate for generations to come.
On February 23, 1946 in Middletown, Maryland, Wayne married Connie Remsberg, who survives him. Theirs was a genuine love story throughout their 67 years of marriage. He is also survived by two sons, Allen (Debora) of Dunmore, WV, and Monte (Gloria) of LaPorte, and four daughters, Linda (Larry) Jones of Arlington, TX, Sheryl (Michael) Benjamin of Denver, CO, Marilyn (Carl) Savich of LaPorte, and Janet (Don) Lyon of Hanwell, New Brunswick, Canada, also “adopted” daughter from Colombia, South America, Chelo Tenorio, of Stillwater, OK; sixteen grandchildren, Jesse, Ethan, Joel and Micah Johnson; Nathan, Caleb, and Charis Jones; Jacob Benjamin and Alissa (Benjamin) Doerner; Holly (Davis) Daly, Peter Davis, and Sara Davis; Vanessa Johnson; Jeremy and Adam Lyon; Naya Gavin; and seven great-grandchildren, Genesis Johnson; Luke, Allie, and Zion Johnson; Malachi, Lincoln, and Kingston Daly; one brother Daryl (Elaine) Johnson, Athens, GA, and one sister Evelyn (Wayne) Zook, Gig Harbor, WA. Wayne was preceded in death by one son, Jerry, his parents, and four brothers, Elden, Vernon, Frank, and Lowell.
The family will receive friends at Cutler Funeral Home on Friday, March 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Cutler’s with Rev. Carl Galloway and Dr. Rodney Nielsen officiating. A graveside service will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862) or to LaPorte Missionary Church (104 E 18th Street, LaPorte, IN 46350).