It was a solemn day in the Brigham Rotary Club.
Rotarian and friend J Wayne Johnson
passed away last Sunday morning
after a short illness.
Wayne has been a Rotarian
since December, 1980,
and has long filled the position of
Club Music Director after his years
of teaching band and music in the local schools.
He was a great example to all of us
of continued dedication to the things he loved
and believed in.
He always had a smile and a warm handshake
to share with everyone he came in contact with.
Wayne will be sorely missed by all of the
members of the Brigham City Club,
as well as by the Brigham City Community.
His obituary follows:
Together Again
J. Wayne Johnson, 95 passed away on Sunday Nov. 13, 2011 after a brief illness. He was born on Oct. 10, 1916 in Brigham City, Utah to Olof Peter and Lilly Young Johnson. He was the eighth of ten children. He attended local schools and graduated from Box Elder High in 1935. He later received Bachelor and Master Degrees from Utah State Agricultural College where he excelled in music and was the drum major of the marching band.
Wayne married Edith Thorne, his childhood sweetheart, on Aug. 16, 1940 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were dedicated to each other through 69 years of exemplary and loving marriage. She preceded him in death on Feb. 9, 2010.
He taught school in Wyoming and Idaho before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1943. He received his wings as a B-25 bomber pilot, at LaJunta, Colorado Air Force Base and was stationed in the U.S. until the end of WWII. After his military service Wayne began with the Box Elder School District teaching band, orchestra, and vocal classes.
He retired in 1980, estimating that he had taught 4000 instrumentalists during his career. He was class "Dad" to the graduating class of 1952.
He was an original member of the Senior Swingers Band and enjoyed playing the drums and singing with them until the time of his death.
He was a past member of the Lion's Club, president of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce and Sons of Utah Pioneers.
Wayne was a dedicated member of the Brigham City Rotary Club.
He was involved with the Golden Spike re-enactment since its inception in 1947 through 2010, usually leading the band or playing the role of General Dodge.
He served in many of the offices of the LDS church, including President of the Intermountain Indian School Branch, and was currently serving as an instructor of the High Priests Group of the Brigham City 9th ward.
Surviving are his four children John W. (Cynthia) Johnson DDS, Mesquite, NV; Dale T. (BJ) Johnson, North Ogden; Janet (Bob) Sanford, Brigham City; Dawn Marie (Rett) Ferrell, Edmond, OK; 17 grandchildren, and 42 great grandchildren.Wayne was preceded in death by his six brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 at the Brigham City 9th Ward, 236 E. 100 S. at 12:00 noon. Friends may call at Gillies Funeral Chapel 634 E. 200 S., Brigham City on Thurs. Nov. 17 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. and at the church on Friday from 11:00 to 11:45 A.M.
Interment will be held in the Brigham City Cemetery.
The family would like to express appreciation to the Hospitalists and staff at the Brigham City Community Hospital.
