William "Bill" Johnson

William (Bill) Norman Johnson, age 88, loving husband, father, brother and grandfather was welcomed back in the Arms of his Creator on April 16, 2012 after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bill was born on May 23, 1923 to Helen Groll and Norman Albert Johnson in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. As a young man, he was active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and earned a Bronze Palm. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the US Navy and spent the war years in the Pacific theater working with the Sea Bees. After the war, he married his childhood sweetheart, Marcella Niles, on May 24, 1947. A Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in metallurgical engineering took him and his family to the Bay Area in 1959 where he was employed by IBM for 21 years. He was instrumental in furthering the growing industry of computer technology. He continued his love for the Scouts by founding and serving as Scoutmaster for Troop 207 in San Jose, California. The fifty-mile hike through the Sierra Nevada Mountains was a highlight and remains a precious memory for his son and his friends. He also served on the Eagle Board of Review. After retirement, he and Marcy returned to the place where they met as children, Door County, Wisconsin and spent many happy summers in their cottage in Ephraim. Bill was always happiest when working outdoors, moving dirt, working up a sweat, trimming trees and bushes, stacking firewood and making fires. His meticulously stacked woodpiles were works of art! His love of dogs began with Prince and he was the loving master of many canine friends throughout life. Bill is survived by Marcy, his wife of 65 years; his daughter, Kristin (John) Howe of Pocatello, Idaho; his son, Thomas (Jean) of Madison, Wisconsin; his daughter, Debi (Mark) Cole of Portland, Oregon; 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Paul (Kathy) of Okaboji, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Bobby and a grandson, Matthew Wade Howe. He will be missed by his family and many friends. We are comforted by the knowledge that he is with One who knows every detail of a life well-lived. The memorial service will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Alliance Church, 800 Marinus Lane, Pocatello, Idaho. His family requests any gifts in Bill's memory be given to the Pocatello Animal Shelter or a charity of choice.