Robert was only child of Valmer "Val" Fremont Johnson and his wife, Isabel Irene McCrory. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife of 56 years, Donna Wiggins Miller. He was survived by 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
He owned and operated Portland Motor Sales, Portland, MI. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division 63 infantry Division B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion). Robert was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and was a lifetime Mason. He was one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club. Served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs and on the Chevrolet Dealers Assoc. Board.
Robert made a significant contribution to the future of Portland, Michigan. In the early fifties the State Highway Department was planning the route for I-96. The original plan had the expressway passing six miles to the south of Portland leaving the city an "orphan" to business and tourism. Working with Chester Divine and several other local business people they convinced the planners to re-route the expressway to its present location saving Portland from the fate of some other small towns along old US-16.
Obituary:
ROBERT JAMES JOHNSON, Age 84, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008 at his son's home in Fremont after 10 months of declining health. Bob was born on September 21, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana the only child of Valmer Fremont Johnson and Isabel McCrory Johnson. Bob Johnson, with his wife Donna, owned and operated Portland Motor Sales. Bob was a member of the First Congregational Church of Portland.
Bob served in the United States Army during World War II serving as a military vehicle mechanic in Germany on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division (63 infantry Division - B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion).
Shortly after his return from the war, after his father Val retired, Bob eventually took over ownership and management of a new Chevrolet dealership which also incorporated Oldsmobile at 425 E. Grand River Avenue. He was elected by other dealers in his district to serve on the Flint Zone Dealers Planning Commission.
He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Portland. As a Kiwanean, he was the institutional Representative of the Portland Boy Scout Troop. He and a core of others had a vision for and developed a two year rodeo event developing a world class rodeo grounds on the flats just off from the Grand River in the mid 1950s. Robert was a Mason since 1946.
Robert was an avid fisherman, outdoors man and golfer. He loved sports of all kinds but particularly football, basketball, baseball and car racing. He and his wife Donna, were married for 56 years until Donna's death in 2000. They became enthusiastic horsemen. Bob was involved as one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club and was the President for a number of years. He also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs.
In May 2001, Bob married his childhood sweetheart from Glenn, Michigan (Findagrave memorial 129350641 )
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his second wife of 7 years; Marilyn; 4 children, 20 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Marilyn V. Danielson, Pastor at 1:00 p.m, Friday, March 14, 2008 at the First Congregation Church of Portland, 421 E. Bridge Street followed immediately following by a reception/luncheon.
He owned and operated Portland Motor Sales, Portland, MI. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division 63 infantry Division B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion). Robert was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and was a lifetime Mason. He was one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club. Served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs and on the Chevrolet Dealers Assoc. Board.
Robert made a significant contribution to the future of Portland, Michigan. In the early fifties the State Highway Department was planning the route for I-96. The original plan had the expressway passing six miles to the south of Portland leaving the city an "orphan" to business and tourism. Working with Chester Divine and several other local business people they convinced the planners to re-route the expressway to its present location saving Portland from the fate of some other small towns along old US-16.
Obituary:
ROBERT JAMES JOHNSON, Age 84, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008 at his son's home in Fremont after 10 months of declining health. Bob was born on September 21, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana the only child of Valmer Fremont Johnson and Isabel McCrory Johnson. Bob Johnson, with his wife Donna, owned and operated Portland Motor Sales. Bob was a member of the First Congregational Church of Portland.
Bob served in the United States Army during World War II serving as a military vehicle mechanic in Germany on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division (63 infantry Division - B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion).
Shortly after his return from the war, after his father Val retired, Bob eventually took over ownership and management of a new Chevrolet dealership which also incorporated Oldsmobile at 425 E. Grand River Avenue. He was elected by other dealers in his district to serve on the Flint Zone Dealers Planning Commission.
He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Portland. As a Kiwanean, he was the institutional Representative of the Portland Boy Scout Troop. He and a core of others had a vision for and developed a two year rodeo event developing a world class rodeo grounds on the flats just off from the Grand River in the mid 1950s. Robert was a Mason since 1946.
Robert was an avid fisherman, outdoors man and golfer. He loved sports of all kinds but particularly football, basketball, baseball and car racing. He and his wife Donna, were married for 56 years until Donna's death in 2000. They became enthusiastic horsemen. Bob was involved as one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club and was the President for a number of years. He also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs.
In May 2001, Bob married his childhood sweetheart from Glenn, Michigan (Findagrave memorial 129350641 )
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his second wife of 7 years; Marilyn; 4 children, 20 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Marilyn V. Danielson, Pastor at 1:00 p.m, Friday, March 14, 2008 at the First Congregation Church of Portland, 421 E. Bridge Street followed immediately following by a reception/luncheon.
Robert was only child of Valmer "Val" Fremont Johnson and his wife, Isabel Irene McCrory. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife of 56 years, Donna Wiggins Miller. He was survived by 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
He owned and operated Portland Motor Sales, Portland, MI. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division 63 infantry Division B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion). Robert was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and was a lifetime Mason. He was one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club. Served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs and on the Chevrolet Dealers Assoc. Board.
Robert made a significant contribution to the future of Portland, Michigan. In the early fifties the State Highway Department was planning the route for I-96. The original plan had the expressway passing six miles to the south of Portland leaving the city an "orphan" to business and tourism. Working with Chester Divine and several other local business people they convinced the planners to re-route the expressway to its present location saving Portland from the fate of some other small towns along old US-16.
Obituary:
ROBERT JAMES JOHNSON, Age 84, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008 at his son's home in Fremont after 10 months of declining health. Bob was born on September 21, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana the only child of Valmer Fremont Johnson and Isabel McCrory Johnson. Bob Johnson, with his wife Donna, owned and operated Portland Motor Sales. Bob was a member of the First Congregational Church of Portland.
Bob served in the United States Army during World War II serving as a military vehicle mechanic in Germany on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division (63 infantry Division - B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion).
Shortly after his return from the war, after his father Val retired, Bob eventually took over ownership and management of a new Chevrolet dealership which also incorporated Oldsmobile at 425 E. Grand River Avenue. He was elected by other dealers in his district to serve on the Flint Zone Dealers Planning Commission.
He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Portland. As a Kiwanean, he was the institutional Representative of the Portland Boy Scout Troop. He and a core of others had a vision for and developed a two year rodeo event developing a world class rodeo grounds on the flats just off from the Grand River in the mid 1950s. Robert was a Mason since 1946.
Robert was an avid fisherman, outdoors man and golfer. He loved sports of all kinds but particularly football, basketball, baseball and car racing. He and his wife Donna, were married for 56 years until Donna's death in 2000. They became enthusiastic horsemen. Bob was involved as one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club and was the President for a number of years. He also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs.
In May 2001, Bob married his childhood sweetheart from Glenn, Michigan (Findagrave memorial 129350641 )
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his second wife of 7 years; Marilyn; 4 children, 20 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Marilyn V. Danielson, Pastor at 1:00 p.m, Friday, March 14, 2008 at the First Congregation Church of Portland, 421 E. Bridge Street followed immediately following by a reception/luncheon.
He owned and operated Portland Motor Sales, Portland, MI. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division 63 infantry Division B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion). Robert was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and was a lifetime Mason. He was one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club. Served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs and on the Chevrolet Dealers Assoc. Board.
Robert made a significant contribution to the future of Portland, Michigan. In the early fifties the State Highway Department was planning the route for I-96. The original plan had the expressway passing six miles to the south of Portland leaving the city an "orphan" to business and tourism. Working with Chester Divine and several other local business people they convinced the planners to re-route the expressway to its present location saving Portland from the fate of some other small towns along old US-16.
Obituary:
ROBERT JAMES JOHNSON, Age 84, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008 at his son's home in Fremont after 10 months of declining health. Bob was born on September 21, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana the only child of Valmer Fremont Johnson and Isabel McCrory Johnson. Bob Johnson, with his wife Donna, owned and operated Portland Motor Sales. Bob was a member of the First Congregational Church of Portland.
Bob served in the United States Army during World War II serving as a military vehicle mechanic in Germany on the front lines with the Blood and Fire Division (63 infantry Division - B. Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion).
Shortly after his return from the war, after his father Val retired, Bob eventually took over ownership and management of a new Chevrolet dealership which also incorporated Oldsmobile at 425 E. Grand River Avenue. He was elected by other dealers in his district to serve on the Flint Zone Dealers Planning Commission.
He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Portland. As a Kiwanean, he was the institutional Representative of the Portland Boy Scout Troop. He and a core of others had a vision for and developed a two year rodeo event developing a world class rodeo grounds on the flats just off from the Grand River in the mid 1950s. Robert was a Mason since 1946.
Robert was an avid fisherman, outdoors man and golfer. He loved sports of all kinds but particularly football, basketball, baseball and car racing. He and his wife Donna, were married for 56 years until Donna's death in 2000. They became enthusiastic horsemen. Bob was involved as one of the founders of the Portland Riding Club and was the President for a number of years. He also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs.
In May 2001, Bob married his childhood sweetheart from Glenn, Michigan (Findagrave memorial 129350641 )
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his second wife of 7 years; Marilyn; 4 children, 20 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Marilyn V. Danielson, Pastor at 1:00 p.m, Friday, March 14, 2008 at the First Congregation Church of Portland, 421 E. Bridge Street followed immediately following by a reception/luncheon.
