Wayne M. Johnston

Munising

Wayne McKinley Johnston, age 97, of Munising, passed away early Sunday morning, August 28, 2016 with his family by his side at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. He was born on November 24, 1918 in Vanderbilt, Michigan to Owen and Blanche (Morris) Johnston.  Wayne moved to Onaway, Michigan as a young child after his father passed away.  He graduated from Onaway High School where he excelled in sports:  basketball, baseball, and football, and was even offered a scholarship to play college football.   He moved to Munising with his Mom and a couple of siblings in 1938.  It was in Munising where he met the love of his life, Julie Prunick. When WWII broke out, Wayne served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a pilot/navigator stationed in the Pacific, Hawaii, and Johnston Island, and Julie worked in Detroit at the Briggs Plant as “Rosie the Riveter” making airplane wings.  After the War, they moved back to Munising and were employed at the Woodenware.  Wayne got hired later at Kimberly Clark and Julie worked at home taking care of their three children.  They were married fifty-five years when she preceded him in death.

Wayne LOVED hunting and fishing of every kind.  He also was very proud of his big vegetable garden and his raspberry patch.  Blackberry and blueberry picking were also a must for him.  His family was in awe of how he could pick a ten-quart pail of blueberries while they were lucky to pick two quarts.  Wayne always smiled when he showed them how clean his berries were.  That came from his younger days of picking berries with his brothers when they sold them to help raise money for their family.  Wayne enjoyed playing city league basketball with local players.  Harry’s Shell sponsored their basketball team and he also enjoyed playing slow pitch softball with the Dog Patch team.  After his retirement from Kimberly Clark after thirty-three years of service, Wayne continued to spend his days fishing, hunting, gardening, and enjoying his family.

He is survived by his son – Dennis Johnston; daughter – Denice (William) Pikka; grandchildren – Trent Johnston, Tiffany (Stuart) Schaetz, Matthew (Marianne) Pikka, Shannon Pikka and her special friend Christian; great-grandchildren – Jensen and Cassidy Johnston, Gwen, Ethan, and Tyler Schaetz, and Kingston Murray; five great-great grandchildren; in-laws – Stanley and Nancy Prunick; and many nieces and nephews.  Wayne was the last surviving sibling of Owen and Blanche and was preceded in death by Earl, Don, Vera, and Audrey.  He was also preceded in death by his parents, wife Julie, and son Gary Johnston.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising at 2:00 p.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors followed by Pastor Jason LaFlamme concluding with committal prayers.

Friends and family of Wayne are invited to the luncheon following the service at the Vietnam Veterans Hall in Christmas.