Kenneth Roy Johnson, 78, of Laramie, Wyoming passed away on April 5, 2024. Ken was born December 9, 1945, to Norval and Dorothy (Lease) Johnson. He was the only son of three children.
The family moved from Newcastle, Wyoming to Laramie when Ken was 13 years old. He grew up with a love for playing in the dirt, operating heavy equipment, and teasing anyone within earshot. He graduated from U.W. Prep High School in 1963 and continued to work for his dad operating heavy equipment with the Johnson Construction Company. In June 1966 Ken married his high school sweetheart, Linda Hunziker, and in September enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany (Vietnam), Virginia, Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii. While stationed in Alaska he received a private pilot license, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Alaska in 1974. He served 11 years and 10 months of active military service as an Engineer Equipment Repair Technician. In that time, he was awarded 5 service medals. In February 1978, Ken suffered a brain aneurysm while diving to recover equipment damaged at sea by Tropical Storm Nadine that forced him into temporary medical disability. In June 1980 he was honorably discharged and medically retired as a Chief Warrant Officer, Second Class.
Ken and Linda returned to Laramie in 1979 to raise their two sons, Alan, and Doug. Ken was an active member in the Masonic Lodge and the Moose Lodge and many community activities. He spent most of his retired years chasing after goats, Linda, and his grandkids. Ken’s fortitude and grit matched his kind heart, bold spirit and love for his wife and family.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Maxine Johnson, his parents, Norval and Dorothy Johnson, his brother-in-law Les (Leslie) Murdoch, and his wife Linda Johnson. He is survived by his sister Phyllis (Johnson) Murdoch, sister-in-law Lucille (Hunziker) Sandoval (Darwin), sons Alan (Salli) Johnson, Doug Johnson, grandchildren Dalton (Savannah) Johnson, Cooper (Rachel) Johnson, Emma Johnson, James Johnson, great grandchildren Sawyer Johnson and Waverly Johnson and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Saturday, April 20th at Montgomery Stryker Funeral Home at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow at the Moose Lodge.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.
Alan & Doug, Mark and I are saddened to hear of your father’s passing. We very much enjoyed seeing him at church and bantering back & forth. Our love to you both.
Doug & Alan, so sorry for more loss. It sure leaves an empty hole in the heart. Take care ❤️
What an amazing life! So very sorry for your loss.
Another Wyoming legacy is at peace. What an a accomplished life!! We are so sorry for your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Ken was a wonderful fellow. I am glad he and Linda are together again. May God be with all of you. Curtis and Ellen hicks
Alan and Family, we are sorry for you loss. We hope you will remember the good times with Ken. We always enjoyed talking with him. I have vivid memories of having the honor of presenting him with the first Quilt of Valor sewn by the local Laramie group. We will be out of town for the memorial service, but want to give you all hugs. You are in our prayers.
Ken Johnson Families, I am pleased to have known Ken for almost as long as I can remember. He loved his family and the Albany County Community and the Community embraced Ken. My thoughts and prayers are with you and God Bless Ken.
Please know that however you're feeling right now—sad, numb, guilty, tired, angry—it's normal. There's no right way to feel. I am so sad that you're going through this. Ken always a smile, always a laugh; Ken was a conversationalist. I don’t think he ever met a stranger. A bigger than life individual. We often had great conversations. We traded updates and laughter. The stories he had and told were great. His military career took him to Vietnam and many other exotic many places, as promised by the recruiter. His mechanical skills while in Vietnam were amazing. I don’t think some the repairs followed military standards, but the soldiers were happy and the commanders were satisfied. He tried to follow Linda and his sons to the events they participated in while growing up. He traveled many a mile with them to rabbit and goat shows. He participated in many craft fairs with Linda. I will miss him; he was a fellow soldier, and a Mason. He was a very proud husband, father, a grandfather and a great grandfather. The world has lost a good man. This is a loss for all of us, but the grief and sorrow that you feel are the deepest and most poignant and personal. Please reach out if there's any way we can help. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10