Donald Johnson

Johnson, Donald 1/24/1935 - 5/8/2022 Portage, MI Donald M. Johnson passed away on May 8, 2022, in Portage at the age of 87, after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Don was born January 24, 1935, in Kalamazoo, the son of Harold and Agnes (Stuut) Johnson. He attended Portage Public Schools, where he starred as a quarterback in football and pitcher in baseball. (His teammates called him "Newc," after Don Newcomb, the longtime Dodger pitching star.) He then attended Western Michigan University. Don married his lifelong love, Barbara (Oakland) Johnson, on June 23, 1956. He ran his own masonry contracting business for many years, then went to work for Consumers Concrete Corp. and worked his way up in the organization, retiring as the general sales manager. Don was never so happy as when he was enjoying the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He traveled all over the U.S. and Canada pursuing these hobbies. He was a volunteer fireman in Portage for many years, beginning when there was only one paid fireman in town. He enjoyed 15 years of Little League Baseball as a manager, coach and umpire. The pinnacle of that career was umpiring the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, where in addition to working the field, he and Barb split a bottle of wine with former big-leaguer Don Sutton. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Betty, and his brother Bill. He is survived by Barbara; his sister Linda Stanton; his four sons: Steve (Linda), Dan (Shelly), Jeff (Sue), and Mike (Lesley); nine grandchildren: Nicole (Joe), Grace (Andy), Hannah (Mustafa), Nick (Bre), Alexa (Dan), Meghan (Tyler), Abigail, Tristan (Lauren), Elsbeth (Joey); and six great grandchildren: Elliot, Adeline, Rease, Jocelyn, Marissa, Ruth, and more on the way! A memorial will be held at The Bridge Church, 7200 Angling Rd. on May 20 at 11:00 AM. Lunch to follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Centrica (hospice), who took wonderful care of him, Kalamazoo Youth for Christ, or The Bridge Church.