James Edward Johnson

James E. Johnson 69, of Polson, MT passed away at his home surrounded by family on November 1st. With the passing of James a grieving and inconsolable family has lost an amazing husband of 45 years and a loving and supportive father and grandfather like none other. Also the world has lost one of the kindest, loving, intelligent, strong honest and humorous human beings. To know him was to love and respect him.
Jim suffered from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma for 9 years, then leukemia and finally bone marrow failure. Every time he turned around this cancer changed its structure and mutated into a stronger and more resistant and harder to treat disease. He fought a courageous battle going through radiation, numerous rounds of chemotherapy willingly suffering all the side effects to get better and stay in this life with his loving and adoring family. He was always concerned about his wife and children than he was with himself. Worried they were getting so tired and warn out taking care of him. Sadly in the end the cancer won out. God saw that James had suffered enough and took him to his heavenly home where he will give him rest.
James was raised in Bonner, MT. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Melba Johnson. James attended Bonner Elementary and graduated from Sentinel High School. He took some classes at the U of M in 1968 and in 1971 attended the Votec for welding classes.
When James was 13 he went to work for Hughes Garden in East Missoula picking and washing radishes. At age 14 he went to work for the Wills Ranch up the Blackfoot helping to put up hay. Age 15 he worked at the Super Saver bakery in Missoula. He stated he "gained 15 lbs the 1st month" eating all the leftover goodies. The summer of 1960 he worked for a landscaping business spraying trees all over Montana and Idaho. He also worked for Pigeon Hole Parking at the Florence Hotel and did janitorial work for different business in Missoula. In the summer of 1963 Jim started at the Anaconda Forest products lumber mill in Bonner, MT.
By August 1965 Jim was drafted into the US Army and went to Fort Bragg, NC, and paratrooper school in Georgia. He was a member of the 82nd Air Borne. He enjoyed parachuting out of airplanes and once stated "He never experienced anything so peaceful and quite as when he parachuted from a plane".
After returning home from the service he went back to work at the Mill in Bonner. He worked in the planer as a millright and there transferred into the machine shop.
By August 1969 Jim and 2 friends went riding motorcycles when Jim lost control of his bike and ended up breaking his right leg. He was admitted to the orthopedic unit at the old St. Patrick Hospital. Unknown to Jim at the time, but into his hospital room would walk the love of his life and soul mate, in the form a newly graduated, little 5'3" nurse by the name of Shirley. I think it was love at first sight and the rest is history.
They married in May of 1969 and welcomed a baby boy to the family in 1970 and a baby girl in 1971. Jim and Shirley eventually purchased a Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle and went on many enjoyable rides and trips over the years.
In 1972 Anaconda sold out to Champion International and Jim continued to work at the mill as a machinist and maintenance supervisor. He worked at the Bonner Mill for 30 years and was the 3rd generation of his family to work there.
In 1993 Champion sold to Stimson lumber and Jim was one of many employees let go at that time. In 1993 and 1994 he worked at machine shops in Missoula. In 1995 he went into the Pizza business with his wife and son Scott. They opened Wagon Wheel Pizza in Florence and Lolo.
Longing to get back to machining, Jim went to work for the Jore Corporation in Ronan, MT as a precision machinist, losing his job there after 6 months due to the company's bankruptcy sale. Jim learned to drive an 18 wheeler for Watkins Shephard for 9 months. In 2002 when Jore started up again Jim was called back to the machine shop and worked there till retiring in 2012.
Jim enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, duck hunting and 4-wheeling with his family. The rougher the roads the better. He especially enjoyed a special fly fishing trip on the Missouri with his son Scott. He liked to rebuild truck and built an awesome and sturdy flat-bed for his 1980 GMC. He liked to build and fly model airplanes. He loved just spending time with his children and grandchildren. Grandpa's Easter Egg hunt became a tradition. He also enjoyed gold panning and golf.
Jim is survived by his Wife Shirley of 45 ½ years, a son Scott Johnson of Lolo and a daughter and Son-in-law Christine and Lafe Shoopman of Evaro; 4 grandchildren, Tyler, Tiffany and Chantra Johnson and Colton Shoopman and one great granddaughter Anastazia Nelson. He is also survived by a brother Tom and wife Pat of Oregon, a nephew Craig Johnson of Oregon, a niece Angie Johnson of Washington and a niece Jill Babcock and husband, Bob and children of Oregon. Also his special friends Roy and Marsh Aldrich of Thompson Falls and Tom and Jean Bolen of Canada. Also several Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Missoula on Thursday November 6th at 10:30 with burial at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery with military honors. A reception will follow the burial at St. Anthony's Church.

Read James Johnson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.