Terrence L. Johnson went to be with Jesus on January 4, 2021. Terry was born to Eugene G. Johnson and Eleanor B. (Zurn) Johnson on June 1, 1942 in Detroit Lakes, MN. He graduated from the local high school in 1960 and attended NDSU in Fargo, ND in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He completed his military obligation in the National Guard and Army Reserves. Upon completing his active duty obligation, he was hired by the VA as a hospital facilities management engineer. He served four VA Medical facilities in this capacity and acquired his Professional Registered Engineer Licenses in Illinois and Indiana.
In 1967 he married the love of his life, Marilyn Elaine Greer upon her graduation in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. They were married in Marilyn’s hometown, Mt. Vernon, IL on June 3, 1967. That fall they purchased a brand new 1967 MGB Roadster which they continuously owned for over 53 years and which transported them on many fun road trips, logging miles in over a dozen states, the Atlantic shore, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Canada.
During the next phase of Terry’s career, he completed his Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration at Duke University in 1974. This began his career in upper VA medical center management. His career advancement took him and Marilyn to several states in the southeast and the Midwest before settling into the position as Medical Center Director, Richard L. Roudebush Medical Center, in Indianapolis, IN. His efforts earned him several awards and honors. He received the US President’s Rank of Meritorious Executive for sustained superior accomplishments in management of US governmental programs, the Ray Brown award for outstanding accomplishments in Federal Healthcare Management from the association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Governor awards. He was honored as an Arkansas Traveler, a Kentucky Colonel, and was awarded with the Sagamore of the Wabash (Indiana). He was so very honored to work with our veterans, some of the most herotic people in our country.
After retirement in 1994, he volunteered with Indianapolis Habitat for Humanity. He served on the ten person “Tiger Team” that organized the efforts for the regular large group builds. He also pursued an Associates Degree in Computer Programing, graduating suma cum laude in 1999. This training was vital in developing and managing a church website a few years later.
In 2003, Terry and Marilyn moved to Holland, MI to be close to Lake Michigan and their favorite sport of sailboating. Terry especially loved to hang out on board and enjoyed keeping the craft in “yar” condition. They are so appreciative of the many friends and shipmates they have had in their forty years of sailboating, the last twenty years at Anchorage Marina, Holland, MI.
In recent years, Terry and Marilyn have taken Catholic Pilgrimage tours to England, The Holy Land, Central Europe and Italy. These Pilgrimages were truly some of their lives’ greatest experiences and they felt so blessed to have had these wonderful adventures. Terry and Marilyn have been active in their local parish, Our Lady of the Lake, Holland, MI which became their spiritual family. They have taken many educational offerings, and served as catechists and visitation ministers.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Eleanor Johnson, brother-in-law Marshall Scott, sister-in-law Gail Parr and nephew Jeffrey Greer.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, brothers-in-law David Greer (Stephanie), Marlin Greer (Karen), Leonard Greer (Sonnie), and sisters-in-law Joyce Scott and Greta Lawrence (Michael). He is survived also by sixteen nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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