Waldon L. “Punch” Johnson, age 71, of 7342 Brampton 27.5 Road; Rapid River (Brampton Twp.) died Thursday, September 13th, 2007 at Marquette General Hospital.
Punch was born September 17th, 1935 at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, the son of Waldon “Nick” Johnson and the former Jean Minor. He was a lifelong Rapid River area resident and was a 1954 graduate of the Rapid River High School. While attending the high school, Punch was the greatest scorer in the history of the Upper Peninsula high school basketball and led his “Rocket” team-mates through one of the finest seasons in the school’s athletic history. Coached by Mr. Norman Slough and later by Mr. Keith Hindes, Punch has left behind records that are certain to endure. Punch has never felt superior to his team-mates, and has always been first to point out that point-feeding guards, rebounding forwards, and understanding coaches have made it possible for him to achieve his lofty record. Many an afternoon after school, Punch practiced by himself, perfecting his shooting eye. It is as a sportsman that true fans will remember Punch. His hearty congratulatory handshake, in victory or defeat, with officials and opposing players and coaches prove that he is a gentleman.
His fellow players will remember his words of encouragement, and his quickness to switch the blame to himself if anything went wrong. Many will remember his hand-offs which sacrificed his own scoring opportunities to enable others to break into the scoring column. The following are some of the achievements of Waldon Johnson, great “Rocket” center: First Team All Class All U.P, First Team All State Class D, Detroit Times, U.P. Record of 603 points for one season, average of 27.5 points per regular season games, school record of 47 points in one game, 1,403 points for high school career, All League for three years and Regional Tourney record of 38 points.
After high school, Punch attended “Northland College” in Ashland, Wisconsin.
On June 20th, 1953 at First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, he married the love of his life, the former Monica G. Creten who the family refers to as the Belgian from Gladstone’s “Moonshine Valley”. Punch and Monica have made their home in the Rapid River area ever since.
Work was like a hobby to Punch and he retired at age 65 as a “First Class Turbine Operator” from Mead Corporation (New Page Corp.) after 45 years of service. In addition, he and Monica owned and operated the “A&W Drive-In Restaurants” in Gladstone and Rapid River for 11 years in which their children were also employed. During that time, Punch also redesigned and rebuilt and remolded those operations. His family remembers him as also working additional jobs such as hauling gravel, timber working, as well as many other endeavors which he enjoyed doing for the well-being of his family and for the pure enjoyment of engineering equipment for those undertakings. During his life-time, Punch designed and built three homes, mostly with lumber he harvested himself.
Hunting, trapping, camping, snowmobiling, traveling, and watching sports were some of his favorite past-times. Punch always was an avid outdoorsman, liked to pass on his knowledge of it to others.
Punch Johnson was a member of numerous civic organizations and fraternal organizations in his adult life which included having served as Masonville Township Supervisor, Tax Assessor, and Building Inspector, and as President of the Rapid River School Board. He also served on the Delta County Airport Board, Soil Conservation Board, and the Delta County Road Commission. In addition, he was a Rapid River Volunteer Fire Department member and a member of the Rapid River Lions Club. Punch was a member of the Gladstone Masonic Lodge #396 F&AM and is a former Grand Master of that Lodge as well as a member of the U.P. Francis M. Moore Scottish Rite were he was proud to be a “Shriner”.
He was a life-long member of the Calvary Lutheran Church of Rapid River.
Waldon “Punch” Johnson’s survivors include:
His wife of 54 years, Monica,
1 Son: Thomas Johnson of the Rapid River area
3 Daughters: Terry (Dennis) Buckley of the Bay View Location; Gladstone; Cindy (Jon Huntington) Johnson of Mishicot, WI; Elizabeth (David) Ritchie of Stacy, MN
2 Brothers: James (Alice) Johnson of Rapid River; Sam (Sandy )Johnson of Rapid River
2 Sisters: Sara (Ron) Lustick of Rapid River; Catherine Johnson of Rapid River
11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
2 great-uncles: Charles Everett; Leroy Sanderson
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Faye Johnson Proehl, and by an infant grandson, Drew Buckley.
The family of Punch Johnson will receive friends on Monday at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone from 12:00 Noon to 4:45 p.m. with Masonic Services being conducted at 4:45 p.m. by the Gladstone Masonic Lodge. Service celebrating Punch’s life will follow on Monday at the Skradski Funeral Home at 5:00 p.m. with Rev. Stephen Gauger of the Calvary Lutheran Church officiating. Luncheon will follow services at the Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be in the Rapid River Cemetery in Masonville Twp.
