Howard Edward Johnson Jr.

Howard Edward Johnson, Jr., 87, of Traverse City, Michigan passed away on October 3, 2024. He was born November 23, 1936 to loving parents Howard Sr. and Harriet (Van Hollenbeck) Johnson and was an only child. Raised in Birmingham, Howard attended local public schools and graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School in 1954. Howard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hillsdale College in 1959 where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played on the varsity tennis team. In 1960, he began a forty-five-year advertising career that encompassed roles at five agencies, including chairman of the Chicago office of D’Arcy, MacManus, Masius and publisher of Wards Auto World in Detroit. He and his first wife, Pat married and started a family that included a daughter and two sons. Following a 1984 divorce, he re-met a high school friend at his 30th high school reunion, Ethel Roehm and they married shortly after on September 6, 1985 at Bloomfield Hills Village Women’s Club. Howard joined Birmingham Country Club in 1987 where he and Ethel spent 19 years playing golf, making new friends and being active in club affairs, serving four years on BCC’s Board of Directors and was elected president in 2002. He was a 27-year member of the Birmingham Athletic Club where he played tennis and squash. Upon retirement in 2006, Howard and Ethel moved to Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, South Carolina where they enjoyed sunshine, warm weather and exploring the beauty, history and sights of the Low Country. In July, 2018 they moved back to Michigan and settled in Traverse City to be near family members as they aged and faced health issues. Howard was predeceased by his loving and beloved wife, Ethel, and parents Howard Sr. and Harriet Johnson. He is survived by his three children: Jody Johnson of Delanson, NY; Jeff Johnson of Western Springs, IL; Mark Johnson of Olympia, WA. Step-daughters Pamela (John) Roddy of Traverse City; Patricia (Doug) Grambeau of Hamburg, MI; Lynda (Craig) Purcell of Beaverton, MI. He leaves eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Mike (Molly and daughters Emma, Nora, Greta and Josie) Purcell of Columbus, OH; Megan (Purcell) Garza (Marc and children Everett and Hannah) of Dallas; Eric (Kendal) Purcell of Milwaukee; Brian (Isabelle) Roddy of Denver; Colleen (Roddy) Holmes (Jeff and son Owen) of Holland, MI; Mallori (Grambeau) and Dylan Schadegg of Dallas; Alexis Grambeau of Dallas and Kelsey Grambeau of Brooklyn, NY. Per his wishes, Howard has been cremated and no formal services will be held. Those wishing to make a contribution are asked to donate to Hospice of Michigan.

Howard Edward Johnson Jr.

November 23, 1936 - October 3, 2024