Thomas H. Johnson

Thomas H. “Tom” Johnson, died February 25, 2010 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 .m. on Friday, March 5 at St. Joseph’s Church in Sandpoint. Tom was born on January 7, 1929 in Wallace Idaho, the son of John and Edith Johnson. Growing up in the Silver Valley, he graduated from Mullan High School in 1947. He worked in the mines to support himself through college and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Idaho in 1951. He was licensed as both an electrical and mechanical engineer. Upon graduation from college he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Air Force where he was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. He served as the base cryptology officer during the Korean War and was promoted to 1st lieutenant. While stationed in California he made a weekend trip to San Francisco and during dinner at a North Beach restaurant, he noticed a young group of nurses and in particular a special one, Jean Peterson, who would become his wife of 46 years. They were married on June 6, 1953 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Tom worked for Allis Chalmers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for two years followed by a 30-year career with Kaiser Aluminum. During that time he worked on numerous projects and at facilities that moved him to Spokane, Washington; Ravenswood, West Virginia; Cronulla, Australia; Moraga, California; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Idaho was always home to Tom and his family and they enjoyed summers at his homes on Hayden Lake and later Lake Pend o’Reille, regardless of where they were living. Following his retirement from Kaiser Aluminum, Sandpoint became a permanent home where he cherished and relished the natural beauty of Northern Idaho for the rest of his life. Tom loved to fish, hunt and was incredibly handy with his hands. His ability to expertly fix anything imaginable never ceased to amaze his family. He also was deeply committed to volunteering in the Sandpoint Community. A member of the Sandpoint Kiwanis for 25 years he took special pride in developing and maintaining Camp Stidwell and projects at Sandpoint Head Start and Kinderhaven. Camp Stidwell shared a special place in Tom’s heart and he wanted to ensure that it would continue to be enjoyed and shared by scouts, churches and families for years and years. He also advised numerous Eagle Scout projects for the Camp resulting in docks, benches, nature trails, horseshoe and volleyball pits. He enjoyed watching those same scouts go off to college, get married and give back. He was frequently stopped over the years in the grocery store or on the streets by scouts who remembered his help and encouragement. Tom is survived by his children, Ann Marie McGee (Robert) of Moraga, California, David (Donna) of Issaquah, Washington, Larry of Kirkland, Washington, and Carol Fletcher (Jeff) of Burr Ridge, Illinois. He will be missed by his grandchildren: Thomas McGee, Michael Johnson, Kirsten Johnson, Eric Johnson, Julia Fletcher and Kyle Fletcher. He is also survived by his sister Elsie (Richard) Magnuson of Wallace, Idaho; his second wife, Ethel Mae; step-daughter, Deana; and numerous nieces and nephews. His parents, his first wife Jean, and his twin sister, Betty Hutchison, preceded him in death. The family would like to thank all of his doctors for the wonderful care that was provided to him over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to: Thomas H. Johnson, Electrical Engineering Scholarship, University of Idaho, Gift Administration Office, P.O. Box 443147, Moscow, ID 83844-3147 or Sandpoint Kiwanis – Camp Stidwell, P.O. Box 1186, Sandpoint, ID 83864-1186.