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Stuart Thomas Johnson
September 20, 1931 - July 26, 2018
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Stuart Thomas Johnson at his home on July 26,
2018. Stuart was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Donna, in 2015. He was also predeceased by
his parents, Morgan and Myrtle Johnson, his siblings, Garth Johnson, Shirley Sanford and Morgan Johnson as
well as his sisters-in-law, Viola McElroy and Eleanor Johnson and brothers-in-law, Fred Sanford, Doug McElroy
and Frank Campbell. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Ivy Campbell and Jean (Jim) Carnegie and many
nieces and nephews.
Stu was born in Beulah, Manitoba on September 20, 1931. He talked of his early years as a time of making
music with his family as they all played instruments. In 1950, he began working for the Canadian Pacific
Railway as a telegrapher on the Brandon and Kenora Divisions. In 1954, he married Donna Grace Douglas and
then enjoyed 61 years of marital happiness. That same year, Stu and Donna settled in Isabella, Manitoba
where Donna taught school and Stu commuted to work on the railroad. In 1960, Stu decided that the railroad
was not for him and he went back to school. He entered Brandon University in 1963 and in 1966 he graduated
with a Teacher's Certificate and a Bachelor of Science degree. That same year, Stu and Donna moved to
Winnipeg where they both found teaching positions. Stu taught Biology in the St. James School Division,
first at St. James Collegiate and then at Sturgeon Creek until he retired. Stu left his mark on his students
through the years and maintained contact with many of them after their graduation. Stu was profoundly
affected by the death of his older brother, Garth, who gave his life while serving in the RCAF during the
Second World War. As Garth was buried in England, Stu began to research other Canadian servicemen who had
died overseas. He and Donna took many trips to Europe and Stu made a point of visiting the cemeteries and
photographing the graves so he could send the pictures to family members in Canada.
Another very important part of his life, especially after retirement, was his involvement with the
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Manitoba. For many years, Stu and Donna were faithful
volunteers at the museum. Stu and Donna travelled all over the world, made friends everywhere they went
and were able to stay in touch with many of them. Stu was always the one with a joke or story to tell and
he loved meeting new people and learning the story of their lives. He was much loved by his many nieces
and nephews and their children. Stu requested that we have no funeral service for him so there will be a
private family graveside service at a later date.
If you so wish, donations in Stu's memory may be made to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum,
300 Commonwealth Way, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5Y3.
For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715
As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 04, 2018
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