Stanley Bruce Johnson August 29, 1933 - July 31, 2026

Stanley Bruce Johnson
August 29, 1933 – July 31, 2026

Stan, or Bruce if you knew him as a young boy, was born to Joesph and Edithe Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska in August of 1933. He lived in Ceresco Nebraska for 7 years until the family decided to head west because his dad had contracted polio and needed warmer temperatures, and no snow to shovel. In 1940 they lived in Patterson, CA when brother Glenn was born, at Emanual Hospital in Turlock, and then finally moved to Turlock in 1947.

Stan and his brother Glenn were raised to love God, their family, and others. They faithfully attended the Beulah Covenant Church in Turlock. Stan worked for the Mowrer’s Malt shop on the old 99 and Main where Latiff’s is today. The Mowerer’s were deeply involved in the Beulah Covenant church and, as a private pilot, would fly to Mission Springs to serve at the camp. Guess who got to go to work in the coffee shop? Stan committed his life to Christ at Mission Springs, while at youth camp, and has served the Lord since.

After graduating from Turlock High School in 1951 he headed to Modesto Jr. College and then to North Park College, run by the Covenant church in Chicago. At North Park he was deeply involved with the outstanding music program, singing in the acapella choir and the college’s premier male quartet. Following that experience, he finished his bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University where he also met his future wife Alice Janet Johnson from Hilmar.

Stan was drafted into the army after his first year of teaching in the San Jose Unified School District. He had been dating Alice Janet Johnson and she decided to follow him to where he was stationed in Kitzegen Germany. Stan arrived in Kitzegan after 3 weeks on a train and 40 days on an army troop ship! He served there from 1956-1958 in the 10th medical Battalion as an administrative specialist in the Headquarters. In 1957, Stan and Jan decided to marry overseas and had two weddings in Germany to comply with the current laws. They honeymooned on the Rhine River and purchased a black VW with a ragtop sunroof to travel around Europe.

After his time in the Army, Stan returned to the States with his new wife and the black VW beetle. They settled in San Jose to work and start their family. They had 3 children, Tim, Cathy, and David. They had many wonderful times with their family. Since Stan had his summers off from the classroom, he spent many of them directing summer camps. One camp was for boys in Lake Tahoe, and another camp was for Diabetic kids in the Santa Cruz mountains. After 38 years in the Campbell school district, including time as a school principal, Stan and Jan decided to travel in their retirement. A couple highlights were joining the Elder-hostel bicycle group in Holland and Southern France. They also participated with the Santa Clara Chorale, which toured in Europe, where they sang in Protestant and Catholic Churches and even for the Pope in Rome!

Another love was going to Santa Cruz to spend time on the beach and eat at Gilda’s or the Crow’s Nest. They usually had friends or family with them or Norman and Lance their dogs.

After Jan passed in 2013 Stan moved to Covenant Living in Turlock. Here he spent time with some old friends and made some new ones. He did not like to see people sitting alone so he would join them as they ate in the Bistro. He enjoyed singing in the choir with a few favorite songs being, He will Hold me Fast, Blessed Assurance, Handle’s Messiah and Children of the Heavenly Father which included the Swedish version that the Johnson boys were required to learn, “Tyggare kan ingen vara”. Stan surprised his children and grandchildren with his ability to use his iPhone. He was an avid Facebook user and was able to text, FaceTime, handle his Kaiser online account, and use many emoji’s.

Stan is survived by his son Tim and wife Kathy, daughter Cathy and husband Doug, brother Glenn and wife Kathryn, eight grandkids – Mike, Christy, Daniel, Carmen, Corrie, Garrett, Megan and Max. He will soon have 12 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife Jan, son David, father Joesph and mother Edithe.

A graveside service will be held at 9:30am on Friday, August 14 at North Hilmar Cemetery 8710 Tegner Rd. in Hilmar.