It is with a sense of loss but also joy that the family of Kent Johnson announce his departure from this earth for his heavenly home on November 24, 2022. The words of apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21 ring true, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Kent was born on October 27, 1930 in Moose Jaw, Sask., and lived in Chaplin, Sask., for the first nine years of his life. Then, except for one year in Victoria, B.C., his family moved throughout Manitoba, changing homes every year until he was 17. It was during his teen years that Kent put his faith in Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord and this relationship remained important to him throughout his life.
When he was 17, he went to work in the north for the Hudson Bay Company cutting meat. At the age of 18, he started to teach school and went on to teach at various locations including Dearlock, where he met his wife, Janet Georgeson. They were married in 1965, and moved to Alberta where he taught school for three years and spend the summers in Finland, Ont., close to Janet’s family. In 1970, they purchased Hyde Park Store at Off Lake Corner (Bang’s Corner) and went on to briefly work at Wepruk’s sawmill and then later to work at Emo Feed Service. During these years, Kent also developed a farm and was the pastor at North Branch Community church for about 25 years.
Kent and Janet raised five sons: Ken, Roy, Colin, Wayne, and Earl, who learned the value of faith, hard work, and how to figure things out on their own as they worked the farm. Kent helped Laun Hickey for a number of years with VBS and Bible Camp prior to his own children being born. Over the years he provided lodging in a cabin he owned to various people of various ages needing a place to stay; sometimes it was only days, while others stayed months and even years. Kent was fond of children and was known for giving them rides at work at Emo Feed on a dolly loaded with bags of feed and an apple at the end of the ride. Another passion was music. He played various instruments “by ear.” He could often be heard singing songs of faith and playing his organ, particularly in his later years.
He is predeceased by his parents Gustaf Johnson and Eva (Newville) Overand; sisters Sharon Henry and Lyla Judstrup; and his son Roy Johnson. He is survived by his wife Janet; his sons Ken (Wanda), Colin (Tanya), Wayne (Janice), Earl (Kristin); as well as his 11 grandchildren Kirk, Jonah, Anna, Caitlin, Roy, Alexandria, Madeline, Natasha, Cody, Brooklyn, and Kinsley.
Funeral service is to be held at Off Lake Covenant Church on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. If desired, a donation in Kent’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home, Emo, Ontario.