Kenneth "Kenny" Lee Johnson

Chatham

Kenneth “Ken” “Kenny” Lee Johnson, age 68, of Chatham passed away peacefully in the presence of family members on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at UP Health Systems Marquette. He was born on November 8, 1956 in Escanaba. Ken attended Eben High School and took courses in Criminal Justice at NMU. He worked as a prison guard in Ionia and Alger Correctional Facilities until he took early retirement due to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. Ken was an inspiration to many for his resilience as he bravely faced the mobility challenges of Parkinson’s with drive and determination. Ken valued family and friendships. He was very generous with what he had, and his nieces and nephews remember him giving them a gift or treasure of his on every visit. Ken was a loyal fan of the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers. He loved adventure - motorcycles, snowmobiles, and hunting, even though he was only patient enough to sit still long enough to shoot one deer over the years. Ken was a frequent visitor to the local pub and Snack Bar where he was happy to share his interests with others. He was friendly and could chat with almost anyone. As he became more homebound, Ken retained his sense of humor and kept in touch with friends and family through regular phone calls.

Ken is survived by his wife of thirty-two years - Kathy (Nettleton) Johnson of Chatham; daughter - Gina (Johnson) Rider; grandchildren - Aaron Johnson, Lilly Rider, Jason Rider, Jr. and Alina Lee Beyer; brothers - Jim (Marsha) Johnson, Philip (Robin) Johnson; sisters - Mary Johnson (Ken Allen), Jane (Mark) Quanbeck, and Connie (Steve) Johnson-Evers; and many good friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Dorithy Johnson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. with his memorial service beginning at 2:00 p.m., at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben, MI.