Queensbury
Erwin “Red” Johnson, 79, of Venice, Fla. and formerly of Queensbury, NY and Lake Placid, NY, passed away on September 8, 2015 at Venice Regional Bayfront Health.
Erwin was born in South Glens Falls in 1936 to the late Milford and Edna (Cleaveland) Johnson. He graduated from South Glens Falls High School in 1954.
For more than 36 years, he worked for NIBCO (Northern Indiana Brass Company) in South Glens Falls, serving as personnel manager from 1969 until his retirement. Erwin also owned and operated a paint and wallpaper store for several years, and was a property manager at Canon Point Condos and KOA Campground. Erwin loved his “retirement” job on the slopes of Whiteface Mountain as a lift attendant.
Erwin was involved in many community and civic groups, including The Boy Scouts of America, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC), past president of Glens Falls Personnel Group, Toastmasters, Adirondack Pipes and Drums and Adirondack Youth Hockey Association.
Erwin enjoyed spending time with his family at their camp on Assembly Point, Lake George for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and camping.
He passed down his talents as a handyman and his love for his Scottish heritage to his children, grandchildren and sons-in-law.
In June 2015, Erwin and his wife, Ann, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Erwin was predeceased by his brother, Walton Johnson; and his sister, Luana Rohlin.
Survivors include his wife, Ann (Danahy) Johnson; his six children, Donna Smyth and her husband, Kevin, of Queensbury; Jay Johnson and his wife, Kimberly, of Johns Island, SC; Janet Burns and her husband, Troy, of Queensbury; Julie Dowd and her husband, Patrick, of Glens Falls; Jeffrey Johnson of Diamond Point and Laura Eldred and her husband, Steven, of Lake Placid; his 13 grandchildren: Robyn Smyth and her husband Brandt Burgess, Eric Smyth, Jalene Smyth, Corey Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Stacia Burns, Anna Burns, Ethan Burns, Colin Dowd, Brennan Dowd, Kieran Dowd, Eamonn Dowd and Jenna Eldred; one great granddaughter, Hadlee Burgess; his sister, Dr. Marilyn Van Dyke of Queensbury; his mother-in-law, Agnes Danahy of Bradenton, Fla.; his brothers-in-law, David Rohlin and Jay Hayward; his sisters-in-law, Deborah Golonka and Danielle Schaaf; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to call from 10am- noon on Thursday September 24 at M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main St. South Glens Falls, NY 12803. To view Erwin’s Book of Memories and post online condolences, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.
A memorial service will be held at noon following calling hours at the funeral home.
Burial will be held immediately following the memorial service at Friends Cemetery on Cronin Road in Queensbury.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Life Raft Group, liferaftgroup.org/donate, 155 US Highway 46, Suite 202Wayne, NJ 07470, which served as a source of support, inspiration and hope for Erwin and his family for several years.
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