Dr. Henry 'Hank' Johnson, 83, a retired dentist and Traverse City resident died August 13, 2018, with his loving wife by his side.
Hank was born June 28, 1935 in Lansing to the late Harold and Mary (Cumings) Johnson.
He attended Traverse City Central High School where he was a member of the marching, concert and dance bands. He was also a varsity athlete in football and basketball.
Boy scouting was a major part of Hank's youth. He earned Eagle Scout status and was tapped for the Order of The Arrow.
Hank attended Northwestern University on an ROTC scholarship majoring in chemistry. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
He graduated June 17, 1957, received his Navy Commission the same day, and married his high school sweetheart on June 22.
After fulfilling his commitment to the Navy, he attended the University Of Michigan School Of Dentistry. He was elected senior class president and was a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Hank accepted a three year appointment as an assistance professor at the school of dentistry. The senior class of 1967 chose him to receive the Paul Gibbons Award for outstanding faculty member.
In January 1970 he opened his dental practice in Traverse City. After 27 years serving his patients, he retired and closed his office in 1996.
Understanding the importance of community service, Hank dedicated himself to the Local and State YMCA., serving as president at both levels. In 2016 he became the first inductee to the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Hall of Fame in recognition for over 40 years of service.
Over the years Hank has also enjoyed memberships in the Kiwanis Club, Rotary International, Cherry Capital Chorus, Barbershop Quartet "Backward Glance", and Knife and Fork Club. He enjoyed tennis, golf, downhill skiing and scuba diving. He also loved a good (or bad) joke.
He is survived by his loving wife Susan, sons, David Johnson and Steven Johnson, daughters, Karen (Dag) Jorstad, and Mary (James) Pittel, nine grandchildren and two great grand children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mary and his brother Col. Harold Johnson.
A visitation will take place Tuesday August 21, 2018 from 5-7pm at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place Wednesday August 22, 2018 at 2:00pm at the Central United Methodist Church with visitation one hour prior. Hank's final resting place will be Oakwood Cemetery.
Those wishing an expression of sympathy may choose to do so in Hank's honor to one of his biggest passions beyond his family, the YMCA.
Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff to share your memories and condolences with the family.
The family is being cared for and served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.