Gunnard Johnson Jr.

All who knew Gunnard Charles Sonny Johnson Jr. would agree that there was just something about his smile that was contagious to all who were near. He was quick witted with a little bit of a sparkle in his eye, and at times he could be a fun-loving kid at heart. Sonny was blessed to spend more than 56 years with the love of his life with whom he raised the children who made him so very proud. He was a devoted father to be sure, but he just may have argued that being a grandfather was his greatest reward. Putting the needs of others ahead of his own came naturally to Sonny, and if net worth were measured in lives touched then he would have wealth beyond measure. Although life will never be the same without Sonny here, the memories he leaves behind will remain forever near and dear to many. Although the accomplishments during the 1930s were muted by the hardship of the Great Depression, the things we celebrated did prove that the American spirit couldnt be broken. The completion of the Empire State Building, the beginning work on Mount Rushmore, and the streets of New York City dressed in the sights and sounds of the first Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade were all notable events that were impressive displays of hope in the future. It was during the middle of this decade that a young couple from Muskegon, Michigan, was blessed with the birth of a baby boy on July 15, 1935. Gunnard Charles was one of two children born to his parents, Gunnard and Meredith (Anderson) Johnson, Sr., and he was raised in the family home in the Lakeside area alongside his sister, Nancy. His father worked as a machinist while his mother was a busy homemaker. In many ways Gunnard, or Sonny as he was called from the time he was a young boy, experienced a typical childhood. He enjoyed being a Boy Scout, swimming and boating with his dog, Rusty, and of course, teasing his sister. Friends played an important role in Sonnys life at an early age, and he could often be found hanging around with a couple of his close buddies, Ron Umstead and Tom Block. He became an accomplished chess player at a young age as well. As a student at local schools, Sonny attended Nims Elementary, Bunker Jr. High, and Muskegon High School. He only attended high school part-time so that he could hold down a full-time job. After graduating from high school in 1954, he went on to trade school. Life grew very exciting for Sonny when he met a young woman who stole his heart. Her name was Grace Cole, and they met through mutual friends. The couple was smitten with one another, and after dating for a time they found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Sonny and Grace were married on September 7, 1957. Together they welcomed three beloved children into their hearts and home: Jeff in 1958, Jim in 1961, and Julie in 1964. Sonny and Grace raised their children in the Lakeside area. There was nothing that Sonny loved more than family time. He looked forward to taking vacations with his wife and children to places like Florida, Tybee Island, Disney, and fall color tour trips in addition to Michigan games. There were also family traditions they all loved such as Friday lunches at the Doo Drop Inn, dinners out, and relaxing Sunday drives. On one such occasion, Sonny took the family for a drive down to Lake Michigan. The waves were huge that day, and they parked so the waves could go over the car. It wasnt too surprising when the car needed to be towed the following afternoon because of all the sand and water in the engine! For 41 years Sonny worked as a patternmaker. The bulk of his work found him doing the finish work of patterns, and he took great pride in his work. Sonny had every tool known to mankind, and he even had the ingenuity to craft his own tools that allowed him to get the job done. He finally retired in 1995 from Anderson Pattern when he was 60 years old. There were so many things that Sonny treasured during the years, and they were even better when shared with the ones he loved. He enjoyed spending time with his brother-in-law, Bernie, and playing chess with his daughter Julies father-in-law, Gayl Beals. Sonny was a member of the Vikings, and later in life he enjoyed going to the casino. He loved fish, and he had it as often as he could as he was even known to order catfish for breakfast on vacation! Sonny had quite a sweet tooth for candy and had a stash in every room of the house and even in the car. As a man of faith, Sonny was a member of Samuel Lutheran Church and attended Lake Harbor United Methodist Church. Sonny gave his family a laugh when he insisted on dating all the canned goods as soon as Grace came home with the groceries. All who knew Sonny would agree that he had a contagious zest for life that made him so much fun to be around. For several years he would snow blow the yard to make a huge hill for sliding. There was also the Fourth of July that Sonny lit off a bottle rocket only to have the bottle fall, which sent the bottle rocket shooting across the street where it landed on the neighbors porch, giving the neighbor the scare of a lifetime. He was thrilled to become a grandfather. Sonny was there to watch his grandchildren in their sports and activities as he had been with his children when they were younger. He played many a card game with his grandchildren as well. During his retirement years Sonny didnt slow down. With a love for woodworking he spent countless hours in his workshop designing and building games, furniture, and tools, and he additionally did a fair amount of refinishing. Even as his health declined during his sunset years, Sonnys sense of humor remained intact. An extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, Gunnard Sonny Johnson, Jr. was a gift to those around him. He was quiet by nature, yet his quick wit was impossible to miss. Sonny cherished his wife, children, and grandchildren, and his devotion to his family and friends is an inspiration. He will be dearly missed and forever remembered. Gunnard C. 'Sonny' Johnson Jr. died Friday, October 18, 2013. Sonnys family includes his wife, Grace; children, Jeffrey (Lori) Johnson, James (Nancy) Johnson, Julianne (Gayl) Beals; grandchildren, Dustin, Erik & Ashley Johnson, Sierra & Brielle Johnson, Daniel & Megan Beals; sister, Nancy (Leo) Drelles; several nieces and nephews. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2013, 11:00 a.m. with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Lake Harbor United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Erbes officiating. Memorials can be made to Lake Harbor United Methodist Church. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.