Obituary of Robert Edward Johnson
Robert Edward Johnson
Age: 86 * South Plainfield
Robert Edward Johnson of South Plainfield NJ passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at home, with his wife, daughter and son-in-law by his side. He will be remembered for his huge smile, gentle spirit and kind and loving heart.
He was born in Newark, NJ, the second of three boys, to Hazel Estelle (Bruck) and Oliver Cromwell Johnson, Jr. He often shared humorous memories of his childhood exploits, many with his younger brother Don, with whom he shared a room. His older brother Ollie was often a target of their mischief. As a young boy, Bob suffered from numerous ear infections, which resulted in significant hearing loss that worsened as he got older.
Bob graduated from Irvington High School in 1952 and immediately began training for his craft by enrolling in Irvington Vo-Tech, which he attended from 1952-1954. Thereafter, he began working at the Engelhard Corporation. Bob enlisted in the United States Army in 1956 and was stationed at the 737th Missile Battalion Battery “B” in Franklin Lakes NJ. He faithfully served his country and was honorably discharged in 1958 and continued serving in the reserves until 1961. He was very patriotic. He loved his country, the American flag and always supported Veteran causes. Following his discharge, Bob returned to work at Engelhard Industries in Carteret, where he was a Master Die & Toolmaker in the Precious Metals Division, with AEC, which allowed him to work on government contracts. Bob worked for Engelhard for 45 years, retiring on January 1, 2000.
On November 17, 1957, Bob met Irene Anne Lorenz of Suffern, NY, who was the love of his life and wife of 62 ½ years. They met when he was serving in the Army and she was a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital, also in Suffern. They met on a blind date and were married six months later on May 25, 1958. Irene and Bob had two children, Stephen Edward and Kathleen Ellen. Bob was a selfless family man who never missed his children’s sporting events, tournaments and much to his dismay, ballet recitals or cheering competitions. He attended them all, confessing to his daughter only later in life how sitting through her recitals and competitions was “torture.”
His son Stephen Edward of Leadville, Colorado, predeceased Bob in 2012, breaking the hearts of his parents and all who knew him.
Bob is survived by his wife Irene, his daughter Kathleen (Ehlers), her husband Darren Ehlers, and their two children Brenden Craig and Jackson Robert, of Park City, UT. Bob loved his grandsons and visited them as often as he could. They called him the “best Grandpa ever,” to which he jokingly responded, “I know.” Every year he made his grandsons a candy house for Christmas. Like everything else he made, it was perfect. He was a fort building, toy making, camp outside on the trampoline kind of Grandpa. He really was the best Grandpa.
To his grandsons, Brenden Craig and Jackson Robert, he loved you both unconditionally.
To Brenden, his first grandchild, he was overjoyed when you were born. He was so very proud of all of your accomplishments, especially when your high school marching band played in the 75th anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial parade in Honolulu, Hi. We all owe you a debt of gratitude for it was only after you were born that Grandpa finally got a hearing aid, because ‘he wanted to hear his grandson’s first words.’
To Jackson, he loved watching you play hockey; he was your biggest fan. He was so proud when your team played at the National Championships in NJ in 2018 and our whole family could attend. He didn’t miss a game.
Bob was also predeceased by his brothers Donald Lawrence of Maplewood, Oliver Cromwell III of Scotch Plains and his brother-in-law Gerald Kulina of Oxford, NY. He is survived by his sister-in law Phyllis (Johnson) and sister-in-law Joan (Kulina) as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by lifelong friends, including Jim Flagg of New Jersey, who lived across the street from Bob as a child, and Norman Townsend of Iowa, who introduced Irene to Bob in 1957.
He was also incredibly talented, an artist and master craftsman who excelled at woodworking. Bob often gifted family and friends with his creations, all beloved keepsakes. He made numerous wooden toys for his grandsons, including the cradle they slept in when they were born and a beautiful wooden rocking horse for Christmas. His generosity knew no bounds, whether it be the gift of his craftsmanship, his time or his labor. If you had a need you only had to ask once, and he was there for you. He was also the family historian, tracing back numerous generations of the Johnson lineage, long before online companies did the work for you.
Bob’s contagious smile, his kind, gentle soul and his companionship will forever be missed by his family and all who had the privilege to know him.
At the request of the Johnson family, a funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday February 18, 2021 at St. Helena’s RC Church in Edison followed by a private ceremony at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield. In lieu of flowers, donations In Honor of Robert E. Johnson can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause Bob supported. www.woundedwarriorproject.org