Obituary: Vernon Andrew Johnson, 94

Vernon Andrew Johnson passed away on Dec. 2, 2014 at the age of 94 at Wrangell Medical Center surrounded by his three daughters: Betty Jo Johnson of Anacortes, Wash., Judi Johnson Tsai of Mechanicsville, Md. and Susan Johnson Eagle of Wrangell, Alaska.

Born as one of triplets on May 18, 1920 in Lexington, Neb., he grew up in Wheatridge, Colo. and Kirkland, Wash. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and proudly served in WWII. He always had a wanderlust and survived numerous adventures including joining the Merchant Marines and travelling to China before homesteading in Dillingham, Alaska where his three daughters were born. He continued his adventures in Australia, Washington and Oregon before his love of Alaska brought him to Wrangell in 1988. He lived independently in the Wrangell Senior Apartments for 26 years.

He loved spending time on his sailboat, Persistence, in Shoemaker Harbor. He always had a smile and kind word for those he met on the harbor dock, at the grocery store, the bank and the post office.

He was preceded in death by his triplet siblings, brother Vernal Johnson and sister Vivian Watkins. He is survived by his younger sister Marlene Spence of Bellingham Wash., his daughters and grandsons, Tyler and Kellan Eagle of Wrangell.

A Celebration of Life will be held in May 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Hospice of Wrangell, P.O. Box 894, Wrangell, AK 99929.