James "Jim" A. Johnson

James “Jim” Albin Johnson, age 91, of Iron River, MI, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018 at the Iron River Care Center. He was born on July 1, 1926, in Crystal Falls, MI, the son of the late Albin and Frances (Burke) Johnson. Jim attended school in Bates, before moving on to Iron River High School, graduating in 1944, where he participated in all sports including track and softball and was a standout football and basketball player. He worked as a delivery truck driver, ice cutter, garbage hauler, lumberjack, and miner. He graduated at 17 and enlisted in the United States Navy. At boot camp, he played softball for the Navy Regimental Champs in the Great Lakes League and was invited to play exposition games for the life of his service. However, he wanted to more actively serve so he refused the offer. He began serving his country on June 4, 1944. He served in World War II for 2 years and received an honorable discharge on June 6, 1946 as a signalman 3rd class with a European Theater Medal, Pacific Theater Medal, Rifleman’s Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Upon his return to the states, he was offered a football scholarship to Iowa and a contract to play for the Winnipeg Blue Devils, both of which he refused. He was a star football player for the Iron County Steelers semi-professional team for 6 years, beginning in 1947 and a star basketball player for a traveling team, the Scalcucci Truckers. He was employed by the Hanna Mining Company at the Wauseca Mine in Iron River in 1948, where he worked for 20 years as an underground foreman. When the mine closed in 1967, he moved his family to Farmington, Missouri, where he worked at the Pilot Knob Mine for 13 years. Jim and his beloved wife, Joyce, followed mining work, going to Toole, Utah and finally to Belfonte, Pennsylvania, before moving back to Iron River for retirement in 1987. He spent 40 years underground and was highly respected for his knowledge and tenacity. Jim and Joyce enjoyed all of their moves and meeting different people, though they missed their family and old friends. Jim was an avid Packer fan, a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the Elks. He was extremely proud of being a World War II Veteran and proud of all who had served their country. He held his trip on the Honor Flight to see the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. as one of the very special times in his life. Jim was the beloved and devoted Husband of Joyce Johnson of Iron River for 59 years. Jim was the beloved father of James (Lois Key) of Sandusky, OH, Barbara (Tim Gegg) of Farmington, MO; Nancy (Bill Amsden) of Farmington, MO; and Kathy (Glen Miatech) of Iron River, MI. He was the beloved grandfather of Kelly (Rusty Schoewe), James and Kasey Johnson, Tyler (Kelly Hearn) and Spencer (Molly Bates) Gegg, Cody and Dustin Amsden, and Megan and Seth Miatech, and great grandfather of Alexandra and Gage Schoewe, Declan Gegg and Baby Gegg, soon to arrive. He was a wonderful uncle to many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, whom he loved like his own children. Jim was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Joyce Goldyn (Benzer) Johnson, his loving son, James Stanley Johnson, infant granddaughter, Sarah Johnson, nephew, Tommy Guzowski, great-nephew, Ryan Guzowski, brother, William R Johnson, sisters, Lorraine (Johnson) Guzowski and Cleo (Johnson) Contardi. Jim was a beloved friend to many and was lovingly called dad by all of his children’s friends as he welcomed them into his home. He was also a second dad to many adult friends, including Lisa, Bone and Mary, Ginger and Goef, in addition to so many others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren, and, not watching, but participating in their lives. He loved making people laugh and spending time with all of his very special friends at Sach’s and the Care Center. The family would like to offer a special thanks to all of those people who made his long life such a joy. A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held at a later date, pending arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James "Jim" A. Johnson, please visit our flower store.