Obituary of Lloyd Theodore Johnson

LLOYD THEODORE JOHNSON

November 24, 1918  -  November 10, 2018

A  LONG  LIFE,   WELL  LIVED

It is with sadness and heavy hearts, but with wonderful memories, that we announce that our loving and devoted husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa passed on to heaven on Saturday, November 10th, 2018, at the age of 99 years, while in the loving care of those he loved and those who loved him.  Lloyd was a kind, considerate, and compassionate man who brought happiness and comfort to his family, friends and colleagues throughout his life.  His devotion to his family, as well as his love of life in so many ways, will be treasured by all those who knew him.  He lived a life filled with patience, wisdom and understanding, with a strong faith in God, and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need.

Lloyd was born in the north-eastern Vermillion Hills, on his parents homestead near Aquadell, south of Riverhurst, Saskatchewan.  He grew up in a happy family with three siblings, and had many relatives and friends with which to enjoy life.  After attending elementary school in Riverhurst, he graduated from Central Butte High School in 1936.  Lloyd worked in his father’s blacksmith shops in Riverhurst and Central Butte before joining the armed services during World War II.  After the war, he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where he eventually met and married his wife Margaret Schmaus on September 23rd, 1950 – resulting in a 68 year long romance and adventure.  Mom misses him dearly every day.

Lloyd landed a job with SaskTel and worked there for 33 years in a richly rewarding career, retiring in 1983.  Lloyd was a musician, playing the trumpet for dance bands at Liberty Hall near Riverhurst in the 1930s and 40s, and in an Army band where he regularly played solo trumpet.  He loved fishing, and was an avid hunter of both upland and migratory birds, as well as for big game in Saskatchewan.  While always looking forward to the fall hunting season, his fondest memories were his annual Fall moose hunting expeditions with his hunting partners, based out of a shack they built near Hudson Bay.  Whether successful or not in their ventures from this old shack, he was as happy and as healthy as one could imagine upon coming home to Regina.  Lloyd thoroughly loved golfing, and played as often as he could at many courses throughout Saskatchewan and in Arizona where he wintered with his wife beginning in 1984.  With a real zest for life, Lloyd built his own cabin at Diefenbaker Lake, and enjoyed Summers and Falls there from its completion in 1985.  He and Margaret were long-time and devout members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir and helped out whenever he could.  He will be long remembered by his family and by those who knew him not only as a selfless and giving soul, but also for his strong yet loving character, his life of giving to many charitable organizations, his many personal accomplishments, and that delightful sense of humour.  He was indeed a special man whose generosity touched many, many others during his life.

Lloyd was a loving and devoted father whose family of three children absorbed much of his time and attention.  Thank you so much dad and grandpa for your passionate kindness and optimism with which you have taught us to live our lives… this has been your greatest gift to all of us.

"In body you are gone, but in spirit you will remain with us forever, while the seeds you planted shall never perish.”

Lloyd was predeceased by his parents Louis Theodore and Mabel Esther (Nelson) Johnson, his older sister Mildred Hazel (Spidell), his brother-in-law Sydney Merlin Spidell, his younger sister Betty Viola Peterson and his younger brother Glen Johnson.

He will be dearly missed and his memory will be cherished by his loving wife Margaret of Regina; his son Brian (Lynn) and their children Erin (Sean Navin), John, Annie, and Jesse of Regina; his daughter Marlene Elias (Bill) and their children Stephanie and Jacob of Tucson, Arizona; his daughter Gwen Spooner and her children Ellen, Michael (Samantha), Bridget, and Maggie of Tucson, Arizona; his great-grandchildren Taya Navin, Knox Navin, and Eli Holtslander of Regina, and Jayden Elias and Isabella Spooner of Tucson; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all the wonderful people at the Pasqua Hospital, Internal Medicine Unit, for their generous support during Lloyd’s final weeks.

A memorial service to celebrate Lloyd’s life will take place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at 190 Massey Road, Regina, SK, on Saturday, November 24th, 2018 at 2:00pm, Rev. Jeff Tank officiating.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  In his honour and in his memory, donations can be made to The Council of Canadians, or to The Canadian Cancer Society, or to a Charity of one’s choice.