Colleen Lois Johnson

Some people define themselves by their successes, by what they have, or by what they do. But some of us, the rarest of us, are defined not by what we have, but by what we earn in life. Colleen Johnson was one such individual, a woman who always did things the right way, with sweat on her brow and a twinkle in her eye. She was a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a treasured friend, but more than anything, she was a wonderful example of the good in people, and of living life the right way. Colleen's story began on a frosty Friday in November of 1926, at the height of the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition was still in full effect, as was mobster Al Capone, and Americans were enjoying a bit of a heyday, the calm before the storm of the Great Depression. Here in this corner of the globe, the Carlson family was enjoying their own personal heyday, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl on November 23, a girl they named Colleen. Colleen was the second of five children born to Russell and Rosamond (Campbell) Carlson, in the family's hometown of Muskegon, Michigan. The Carlsons lived on Hackley Avenue, and enjoyed many happy memories as a family. Colleen's parents also owned a plot of land in North Muskegon where they grew vegetables for the family, which was an especially beloved place for her. She and her older brother Max spent so many sun-kissed days at the farm, swimming in the river, and jumping off the rope swing. Colleen enjoyed being the big sister, and her baby brother Jerry shortened her name to just "Cleen" which was his first word. Being a big sister, Colleen learned responsibility from an early age, but she always knew how to have fun, too, traits that she carried in abundance throughout her life. Colleen graduated from Muskegon Heights in 1944, and began working as an operator for General Telephone and as a clerk at Neisner's Department Store and Brundage's Drug Store. When she was just a young girl, she had a classmate at Glenside School named Edwin "Jim" Johnson, who she developed a crush on. In fact, she sent him his very first Valentine's Day card from a girl! Nine years and lots of living later, the two got married, on January 8, 1949. Sometimes, when you find your soul mate, it doesn't matter if you're in the eighth grade or you're 85, you just know it. That was Colleen and "Jim". The newlyweds were blessed with four terrific children, Larry, Carol, Karen and Eric. They had built a home on the Ninth Street neighborhood in Muskegon Heights in the early 1950s, a home that meant much to them, and the place they raised their children. Colleen stayed at home to care for her family, which she was exceptional at. They often vacationed together in the Upper Peninsula, where the kids loved staying in motels with swimming pools and collecting shoes full of rocks from Lake Superior to bring home. She was a wonderful wife and mother, and instilled in her children strong values, discipline, and the value of a good day's work - traits she had learned from her hardworking parents. Her parents were "working people," as Colleen described them, and so was she. So then, would her children be, if she had any say in the matter (which of course, she did). When her kids got old enough, Colleen returned to the workplace, taking a job as an inspector at Howmet in 1968. She worked there over 20 years, before retiring in 1990. After her retirement, she had time to spend on the many things she enjoyed in life, from reading (she could finish a book in a single day), to crocheting, a hobby she tried to pass to her daughters, unsuccessfully. She also loved to learn new things, and after buying a new computer for her granddaughter to use at her home, she learned how to use it, too. She loved to surf the internet, write emails or play spider solitaire. Colleen had formed many lifelong relationships. She made many friends throughout her life especially Olive Cates from the Ninth Street neighborhood and Violet Robbins from Howmet. She and her friends shared a special bond that included pulling fast ones on the people around them. Most of all, of course, she loved to spend time with her family, her beloved husband, children and grandchildren. She also spent time chasing around many of the other children and grandchildren she had "adopted" as her own. She was a wonderful Grandma, who would do anything (and try anything) for her "grandkids". She was an absolutely fearless Grandma, too. She took the "grandkids" and their friends to Cedar Point, to Disney World, and to the museums in Detroit and Chicago. They'd often spend the day together at community events, or even camping at Pioneer Park. Of course, to go with an experienced camper like Grandma, you had to follow Grandma's rules - to the letter. In fact, she made her grandkids read a list of rules and sign them before they left, and if they broke the rules... they came home! The rules were framed as a keepsake. Nobody could pull a "fast one," on Grandma, who seemed to have invented "fast ones," herself. She was a thoughtful, generous and unpretentious woman, and a delightfully fun-loving and even mischievous lady, at that! For example, she always loved cats, and usually had one as a pet, even though she'd have to "sneak" it into the family, past her husband! Even though she didn't enjoy cooking, she was famous for her delicious potato salad, which she was "required" to bring to any and all family functions. She of course, gladly did. She'd always do anything for her family, and relished every moment she spent with them. Just a month before Colleen sadly died, she and her great grandson Aiden rode on the Bunny Train, in Coopersville, one more wonderful memory she shared. That's just how Colleen was. She knew what was most important in life, and how to live her life the right way, surrounded by the right people, the people that mattered most: her family. She was a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a treasured friend, but more than anything, she was a woman who always did things the right way, with sweat on her brow, a twinkle in her eye, and love in her heart. Today her love, and her memory, live on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. JOHNSON, MRS. COLLEEN L. Muskegon Mrs. Colleen L. Johnson, age 79, died Monday, May 15, 2006. She was born in Muskegon, MI on November 23, 1926 to Russell & Rosamond (Campbell) Carlson & married Edwin G. Johnson on January 8, 1949. SURVIVORS Husband, Edwin G.; 1 son, Eric Johnson of Newaygo; 2 daughters, Carol Johnson of Muskegon & Karen "Doobie" Johnson of Muskegon Hts.; 4 grandchildren, Jeremie Lederman, Shelby Johnson, Joe Bargman (Trisha Wood) & Jake Bargman; 3 great grandchildren, Aiden, Chase, Madison, Emily Colleen expected July 2006; 2 sisters, Gwen (Jerry) Langlois of Spring Lake & Jackie Johnson of Newaygo; 1 brother, Jerry (Terry) Carlson of Fruitport; & a special friend, Leslie (Bargman) Snavely of TN. She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Johnson in 1992, a brother, Max Carlson in 2005, a sister-in-law, Van and a brother-in-law, Bob Johnson SERVICE Friday, May 19, 2006, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Pastor Sarah Samuelson officiating. VISITATION Thursday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: Hospice of Muskegon.