Avis de décès de Earl-Joseph Johnson - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Earl Joseph Johnson June 25, 1925 - July 22, 2004 Funeral arrangements by Atlantic Funeral Home (Halifax) JOHNSON, Earl Joseph - The family of Earl Joseph Johnson, Bedford, announce with immense sadness the sudden passing of our wonderful father and husband. He died unexpectedly but peacefully at home with those he loved, in the early morning hours of July 22, 2004, almost one month after his 79th birthday. Earl was the devoted husband of Aletha Marie (Bonin) and father of Trevor, both of Bedford. He is also survived by his brother, Erwin (Celie); sisters, Ellen (Laurie) Brean, Halifax, and Erlene (Allan) McInnis, Guelph, along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, whose lives and activities he always quietly but actively followed with great interest, pride, and enthusiasm. He was predeceased by his brother, Einar (Dartmouth), and sisters, Esther Swinney (Halifax); Evelyn Davidson (Prince Edward Island), and just recently his sister, Elaine Kent (Dartmouth). Earl was born on June 25, 1925, in Sudbury, Ont. to parents, Hjlmar and Marie (Neilsen) Johnson. He was the oldest of three brothers and second oldest in his family of eight. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Halifax, where they lived most of their time on King Street. He attended school in Halifax but his education was interrupted by the depression and later the Second World War, for which he volunteered to serve. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the army and served overseas as a member of the Canadian Assault Engineers. He participated, in addition to other actions, in the liberation of Holland and served with advance assault forces in the battle of Arnhem. He was recently recognized and awarded, along with other veterans who served in this campaign, a special memorial medal by the government of Holland. Though he spoke very little about his wartime experiences and only more so in recent years he always did so with compassion and empathy towards all those he had seen suffer. These and his other experiences touched him in many ways. He was a person very sensitive to the suffering and treatment of others, and of living a life of good values and fairness. Subsequent to the end of the war, he returned to Halifax and briefly served as an engineer on the passenger ship "Lady Nelson". However, he decided to remain and live in Halifax and soon thereafter apprenticed in the plumbing profession in which he developed his own contracting business which he continued until retirement, with the exception of a 13 year tenure with Transport Canada supervising the Halifax International Airport. He was a ready listener and always ready when asked (and sometimes when not) to provide sage advice, a sympathetic ear and companionship. He always enjoyed the company of people and in later years the kindness and attention shown to him by all the staff of "girls" at his favourite restaurant where he ventured daily for his morning coffee and chat. He loved nature and animals and was an avid painter of the beauty of Nova Scotia. He was a deeply spiritual person who had a voracious appetite for reading philosophy, world religions and art. He loved a lively debate on these topics and was always ready to critically analyze and debate local issues and those impacting the world. Most of all, however, he was a kind and gentle person dedicated to his family. He was much loved by his wife and son, brothers and sisters. He will be greatly missed. Trevor and Aletha would like to express their deep appreciation for the wonderful support and compassion shown by so many. No visitation by request. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Atlantic Funeral Homes, Halifax. The memorial service will be held in St. Catherine's Church, Bayers Road, Halifax, on Tuesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. In lieu of Flowers, donations would be welcomed to an animal shelter of your choice.