Obituary of Gary N. Johnson

Gary N. Johnson, 77, of 4374 Johnson Road, Bemus Point, passed away Sunday January 19, 2020 in the Buffalo Veterans Administration Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He was born May 18, 1942, in Ithaca, New York, a son of the late Chester and Ada Shaw Johnson. Growing up in what was known as the Boniwood area of Jamestown, he graduated from Jamestown High School with the Class of 1960. Beginning at a young age, he worked diligently for his family's business, Johnson Radio and Electronic Equipment, and continued to do so through high school and college. The business had locations in Jamestown as well as Bradford, Pennsylvania, the latter of which Gary managed himself. He attended Jamestown Community College, followed by the University of Cincinnati, receiving a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1966. A Vietnam War veteran, he proudly and humbly served in the United States Army from 1966-1969, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He trained in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and graduated from the Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967. Gary was part of the 199th Infantry Brigade and completed his jungle school training in Panama. He served a six-month combat tour as a platoon leader, followed by a six-month assignment planning missions and operations for high ranking officers. Shortly after returning from Vietnam, on August 29, 1970 in Jamestown, he married Leslie Wettingfeld Johnson. Gary began his insurance career in 1969, working as a claims adjuster for Travelers Insurance Company. In 1983, he established the Gary N. Johnson Insurance Agency in Jamestown, retiring in 2016. Gary was an enthusiastic community supporter, and was a member of War Vets Recreation and the Vikings Lake Park, a life member of and served on the board of directors for the Celoron Rod and Gun Club, member and former board member of the Norden Club, and a founding member and Chaplain of Ellery Center VFW Post 557. An avid outdoorsman, Gary was passionate about duck hunting and competitive skeet and trap shooting, which he practiced beginning at age 16. For more than 35 years, he enjoyed annual duck hunting trips to Mud Island, Canada, with some of his closest friends. He loved going on long excursions in his motorhome and looked forward to his annual trips to NASCAR races in Michigan with his son and grandson. Gary is fondly remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. Over the years, he cherished trips to Florida and the Thousand Islands with his family and attending school and sports events for his children. He supported his children in any way he could, including helping them with significant life events throughout the years, such as long road trips to sporting events, moving, and so much more. Gary was a true leader and mentor, both personally and professionally. His unique and witty sense of humor, kindness, loyalty, work ethic and willingness to help others is cherished and carried on through his children. Surviving are his wife, Leslie Wettingfeld Johnson; four children, Marla (Christian) Schechs of Philadelphia, PA, Robin (Brian) Kiendl of Jamestown, Christopher (Tessa) Johnson of Bemus Point, and Jane Johnson of Jamestown; seven grandchildren, Lukas and Ada Schechs, Sofie and Finley Kiendl, and Baker, Elsie and Anneli Johnson. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anne LaRowe, and a brother, Curtis L. Johnson. To honor Gary, friends will be received from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Lind Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, also at Lind Funeral Home. Reverend Douglas Kibbe will officiate. Burial will be in Veteran's Grove of Lake View Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Ellery Center Post 557 Veterans of Foreign Wars, P.O. Box 358, Bemus Point, NY 14712, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY 14701, or the Fredonia College Foundation, Dr. Robert F. Wettingfeld Undergraduate Research Award in Biology, 272 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14603. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.