Kenneth Lee Johnson's Obituary
Mr. Kenneth Lee Johnson, age 75, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, August 4, 2024 following a motorcycle accident. Ken was born in Muskegon on October 8, 1948 to Kenneth M. and Ann E. (Hartman) Johnson. He graduated from Muskegon High School in 1966 and earned his Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Degree from Western Michigan University and MBA from Central Michigan University.
On June 15, 1991, he married the love of his life, Mary Margaret Steingraber in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They enjoyed 33 years of marriage, spending their lives at their home on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, and winters at their second home in Zephyrhills, Florida. He was employed by Amway Corporation for 33 years prior to his retirement. His position as a Project Manager for Receiving Distribution Centers brought him all over the world, to Denmark, Russia, Poland, the Netherlands, and S. Korea to name a few. Ken had an adventurous personality and embraced the excitement and challenges with everything he did. He had a lifelong love of motorcycles that included long distance trips, motorcycle camping with his wife and friends throughout the United States. During his 30 plus years of motorcycle racing, Ken proved his skills by placing first in many regional races and was a three-time Senior Hare Scramble state champion. He excelled at many other sports as well, including, but not limited to, cross country skiing, running, swimming, Judo, bicycling, and pickleball. Ken had a passion for learning -- he was a self-taught guitar player, having a garage band in his teens, but college and life put his love of music on the back-burner. After he retired, and at the age of 70, he picked up a guitar once again and spent many hours fine-tuning his craft, learning many new songs, and became a very decent singer, too! He was a member of the White Lake Area Pickleball Club and was instrumental in maintaining and improving the Richard Duseau Pickleball Courts at White Lake Township Park, including the latest expansion of the six new additional courts. He was also a member of the Whitehall Eagles. Ken didn’t have much downtime, but when he did he was an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction, including various wars and American Indian history, and also binged on every episode of Gunsmoke, Rawhide and The Rifleman. Ken will always be lovingly remembered for his gentle nature and wonderful (sometimes dry) sense of humor. He was deeply loved by all who had the honor of knowing him. Ken will be deeply missed by his adoring wife, Mary Margaret; brother, Dale Johnson and his wife Jane, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; Ann E and Kenneth M. Johnson; parents-in-law, Arnold and Gail Steingraber; and sister-in-law, Gayle Ann Steingraber.
Friends and family are invited to a CELEBRATION OF KEN’S LIFE to be held on Saturday, August 24th at 8223 Cook Street, Montague MI. from 1:00-4:00 P.M. An opening prayer will be given by Pastor Tom Beeghly @1:30 followed by a champagne toast and group anecdotes. There will be lunch, refreshments and live music to showcase another one of Ken’s many interests. Please come and celebrate the life of Ken as he would hope. Don’t forget that pickleball shoes or your favorite sneakers must be worn!
Donations in Ken’s memory may be sent to Western Michigan University, Gift Processing Department, College of Engineering, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5403, or charity of your choice.
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