Verner Vincent Johnson Jr.

Verner Vincent Johnson Jr.
July 21, 1936 - January 23, 2018
Vern was born in Denver, Colorado on July 21, 1936 to Verner Vincent Johnson Sr. and Jennie Clark Johnson. The family soon moved to Eastern Washington, where they lived until the outbreak of WWII. They eventually settled in Seabeck, Wa, where Vern attended school, graduating from Central Kitsap High School in 1955.
After high school, he attended Olympic College where he obtained his Associates degree in 1957. He then travelled to Kodiak Island in Alaska, where he worked until he joined the Army in 1959. He was stationed in Germany during his time in the Army.
After his time in the Army, he returned to Washington state and worked for Boeing. In 1961, he attended Floral school in Portland, OR. He then purchased the North End Flower Shop on the corner of Front and Jensen in downtown Poulsbo. He ran the shop, as well as another floral shop on Bainbridge Island until 1974, when he sold the shop. During this time, he also drove school and ski buses for the North Kitsap School District.
In 1968, he met his future wife, Nita June Sorenson. They were married June 12, 1971 at First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo. After selling his floral shops, he went back to college, earning his BA of Ed from Central Washington in 1976. His only child, Kjersti Ingrid, was also born that year. He was hired by the North Kitsap School District, where he taught grades 1-3 at both Suquamish and Pearson Elementary schools, from 1976 - 2000.
Vern loved to garden, create stained glass windows, read, travel, and spend time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Nita Johnson, Daughter Kjersti (Carl) Johnson, two grandchildren Abigail Johnson and Alexander Johnson, brother Thomas Lee, and sisters Eleanor Sayer, Alberta (David) Richards, Vernita (Bob) Montoney, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother Robert Leonard.
Vern fought a long and hard battle with cancer, but never gave up his fighting spirit. The family requests that donations be made in his name to the Cancer Society or to Vinland Lutheran's Scholarship or Building funds.
A Memorial service will be held at Vinland Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 10th at 1 pm.