Edgar Johnson

We miss our brother “Eddie” dearly, son of William Judson & Betty Bonisteel Johnson.  Edgar Hare Johnson was born September 26, 1953, the youngest of six children, graduating from East Grand Rapids High School in 1971.

From his early years Eddie was a gifted athlete, learning how to play tennis at about age 4 from neighbor Win, whom he deeply admired, as well as Betsy and the Irwin family.  As a result, Ed was very successful in City Tennis Tournaments at a young age.

Ed was nice to everyone he met and everyone loved Eddie!!!!!  Twice he was President of his high school class and President of the Student Council in his senior year.  In addition, Eddie played 3 sports:  co-captain of football, as quarterback, and captain of basketball & tennis.  He won the State in doubles in tennis, and as a team they came in 1st in the State.  In his senior year Ed received both the DAR and the American Legion awards.

In the fall of 1971, Eddie enrolled at the University of Michigan, initially majoring in engineering.  He also joined Naval ROTC.  Our parents were so proud because Eddie made the Dean’s list and they were invited to a reception honoring him.  At the same time Eddie played on the Varsity Tennis team, earning his Varsity “M” letter for two years.  In spite of doing so well in engineering, he transferred to the School of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in Latin and Greek.  During the summer while he was a student at Michigan, he drove himself to California and taught tennis at the Carmel Valley Tennis Club.  Eddie loved California and as a result, after spending 2 1/2 years studying at the University of Michigan, he transferred to the University of California - Irvine.

Eddie loved fly fishing with our Dad & our Uncle Sidney Johnson, frequently on the Pere Marquette River near Baldwin & the Little Manistee.  With his brother Roscoe, too, they flew into Canada to fly fish in the wild.  Eddie loved music and loved visiting Interlochen with our Mom and sisters Katie, Frannie, Liz and Jane.  He loved traveling to his sister Sidney and her husband Jim's, visiting her family in the Finger Lakes Region of NY for the holidays.  He loved travelling to Katie’s miniature shows with his Mom and sister.  Ed loved his 7 nieces & nephews and his 12 great nieces & nephews.  Exercise and diet were high priorities with Eddie, and like our Dad he frequently enjoyed walking to services at St. Mark’s Church downtown.  Several of Eddie’s best friends from high school predeceased him.  Eddie will be sorely missed by his family, his close friends & everyone who knew him.  For the past 1 1/2 years Ed lived at Porter Hills Village.  Ed loved Porter Hills and was very appreciative of how wonderful the staff was to him.  Ed was positive and did not complain.  As the youngest of 6, we are so very saddened by his death at age 67 on July 7, 2021!!!!!

Visitation will begin at 10 am with the funeral service at 11 am on Tuesday July 13th at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 134 North Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 with a luncheon following the service.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Interlochen Center for the Arts - Betty Bonisteel Johnson Camp Scholarship, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Porter Hills Foundation or the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.

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