Bruce Alden Johnson's Obituary
Bruce was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 17, 1926, the youngest of three kids to Irene and Emil Johnson. He was a precocious boy, once almost burning the house down discovering matches in the cellar over the coal bin. He played trumpet in the High School band and became a star football lineman for Teddy Roosevelt High, the year they won the State Title.At age 17, Bruce tried to enlist in the Army to follow his big brother Bob into WWII. The Army recruiter told him he was too young. The Navy recruiter was right behind the Army recruiter so he turned around and enlisted with the Navy in 1943. That was the year the bazooka was introduced into the war and American fliers bombed Hamburg using tin foil to confuse German radar. The Navy had different plans for young Bruce. He joined the V-12 program and was sent to the College of St. Thomas, then to Iowa State where he played football, and last to the University of Minnesota where he got his degree in Engineering in 1948.He was working for Phillips Petroleum in 1949, when he met the love of his life and future wife Ann Satterfield. On the way to the wedding in Tower, Minnesota, they very nearly missed it when they hit a cow. On the way to the honeymoon they slept in and missed their train. They jumped into a taxi and raced the train to the next station just in time to catch it.When Phillips transferred him to Chicago they settled in. They bought a new home in North Brook and then Bruce got orders to report to duty, it was 1950, and the Korean War was just getting going. When he reported he was a Junior Grade Lieutenant assigned to a ship in San Diego.The ship was not in San Diego when they arrived and they continued up to San Francisco where they moved into a Quonset hut while the ship, an LST, was being prepared. Soon Bruce was on board heading for Hawaii and Ann was driving back to San Diego. Bruce was assigned to be the ship’s supply officer where his skills as an engineer had no application. From Hawaii they headed for Guam and loaded up with battleship ammo, then to Japan, and from there making forays to Korea carrying marines and equipment into battle. Being a Landing Ship Tank (LST), the ship could land on a beach to offload troops and heavy equipment and then float back into the water.Back in the states he was assigned to the Command of Amphibious Vehicles where he determined what repairs were needed for returning ships going into inactive status after the war. His last active duty was at the Silver Strand in 1954. Rumor has it he finally learned how to beach an LST and as the story goes he got it stuck there.Back to Minnesota they went, into employment by his dad at Viking Steel. That didn’t last long because Bruce didn’t like his dad’s partner. His daughter, Melissa, was born in 1954, and in 1958, he was heading back to San Diego, all expenses paid by ROHR Industries. He bought a new house in Chula Vista and worked for ROHR designing parts for airplanes and jets. In 1961, Bruce Jr. was born.Bruce Sr. took the Professional Engineering Test (1961)and became a licensed engineer. He got a job with the City of San Diego where he worked for 32 years. He was hired as a project officer and the new San Diego Stadium was one of his projects. He also worked on Police Headquarters, Fire Departments and Libraries. One of his pet projects was solar hot water systems which he had installed in many city buildings.In 1962, the family moved out to one of the newly arising neighborhoods of Chula Vista. He joined the Chula Vista Planning Commission and was active until 1968. He also joined the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, ASHRAE, a worldwide organization of engineers and building contractors. He served on national committees, was elected President and served as the regional historian.In 1968, they moved to Bonita. They had three quarters of an acre and Bruce became a small farmer fulfilling his daughter’s dreams of horse ownership and his son’s of mini bike trails. They had cats and dogs, chickens, ducks and a goat, plus two horses. Both Ann and Bruce were water sports people so they built a swimming pool and Ann taught swimming lessons. Bruce Sr. and Bruce Jr. (Chip) participated in Boy Scouts. Bruce Sr. had his Eagle Scout Badge and he enjoyed helping Scouts with their badges as a merit badge counselor.Bruce continued in the Ready Reserve after discharge. Every year he went on 14 day active duty periods on board ship, or at a school somewhere in the US to continue his training. In 1972, he achieved the rank of Captain.Over his long life he played piano and took guitar lessons. He studied Spanish and took singing lessons. He joined Toastmasters and the Military Officers Association (MOAA). He and Ann traveled the world and especially enjoyed their RVing around America. He was active in his church, the Bonita Center for Spiritual Living, spoke at local high schools for their career days, and he was active on the board for the development of the Bonita Library and Museum. When his daughter moved to Colorado the whole family helped to build her straw bale house. He never hesitated to find a pun, some good and some bad, and he was active and creative with his life in all ways.He is survived by his sister, Bettye in Minnesota and his daughter, Melissa in Colorado.A celebration of life will be held at Bonita Center of Spiritual Living on Sunday 11th at 1pm.A Naval tribute will be held on site Tues. 13th at 11am. At Fort Rosecrans in Point Loma. Thanks. For questions call Melissa at 970-729-2855.
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