By Staff
Alvin L. Johnson, 73, of King Drive, Niles, died at 3:20 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, officiating.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
He was born on Dec. 5, 1935, in Albert City, Iowa to Clarence M. and Lucille (Shimon) Johnson and graduated from Pocahontas High School in Iowa. He has lived in Niles since 1971, coming from Chicago, Ill.
He was employed for more than 29 years at IBM in Chicago and South Bend, Ind.
He owned and operated a sailboat on Lake Michigan and was a member of the Power Squadron in South Bend, Ind. He also enjoyed driving his motorcycle. He was a talented cabinetmaker, building furniture and other woodworking projects.
His greatest joy was caring for his family, especially entertaining and cooking for them.
On May 4, 1957, in Chicago, he married the former Dorothy A. Chesney, who survives.
Additional surviving family include their children, Michael (Lois) Johnson of Niles, Timothy (Joy) Johnson of Mishawaka, Ind. and Catherine (Mark) Albright of Mason; grandchildren, Dean, Shawn, Rose, Joshua, Raymond and Shanda; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Bryce, Colton and Alan; a brother, Melvin Johnson of Louisville, Ky. and a sister, Diane McLean of Beaverton, Ore.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Mavis Call.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.