Fred Johnson

Fred F. Johnson, age 94, passed away on March 5 following hip surgery. He was a devoted and much loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and Carl (Jack) and his sisters, Ruth and Ina. Born in 1912, he graduated from Union High School. During the Depression one of his many part-time jobs was for a map-making company. He was fascinated with the process, and during one lengthy period of almost total unemployment, he made a map of Kalamazoo which he subsequently published and sold. His map-making endeavors went on hold during World War II when he and Marian moved to Ann Arbor so that he could work at Willow Run Airport. In 1945, after the war, he decided to give map-making another try. After finding there was a market, he formed the Fred F. Johnson Company. Some years later he moved his company to Grand Rapids where the company eventually incorporated and became Metro Graphic Arts, Inc. As devoted as he was to his business, his family always came first. His wife, Marian, his daughters and their husbands and his grandchildren cherish memories of good times spent at his cottage on Canadian Lakes and at other family gatherings. Dad loved playing games particularly golf, cards and badminton. He enjoyed fishing and family vacations. He and mom enjoyed many of the cultural offerings of Grand Rapids including theatre, the opera and the symphony. He will be missed by Marian, his wife of 67 years; his daughters, Diane (David) Gaebel, Linda (William) Clifford; his grandchildren, Teri Gaebel, Christopher (Amy) Gaebel, Dan Gaebel, Stephanie Clifford, William (Stephanie) Clifford and Michael (Christine) Clifford; and four great grandchildren, Ethan, Elizabeth, Megan and Samantha Clifford. A memorial service will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the Ada Congregational Church, 6330 Ada Drive, Ada, with the Rev. Gary Burdick officiating. Visitation will be at Metcalf & Jonkhoff on Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The family is being served by