Robert Holger Johnson

passed away suddenly on Thursday, February 9, 2017 on Bainbridge Island, WA.He was born on August 24, 1927 in Hyder, Alaska and was 89 years of age. He and his wife, Pat, have lived on Bainbridge Island for 54 years. ​He worked as a civil engineer with King County and retired in 1992.Bob was always proud of his Alaska heritage. He moved from Hyder to Ketchikan, AK with his family to go to high school, and in 1942, at 15, joined the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG), equipped with WW1 rifles, made up of locals too young or too old for the draft. As soon as he was old enough he enlisted in the Navy, and served eleven months in Kodiak AK, to be discharged at war's end.​He achieved a BA in Geography at UW, just in time to be drafted by the Army during the Korean war. At that time service in the ATG had not been recognized by the War Department, and his time in the Navy wasn't enough to count. Luckily the Army discovered he had been through Basic, and needed a corporal to head up a team to map San Francisco; he was able to spend his 2 years at the Presidio army base in the bay area.Bob loved to dance. He met his wife at a Scandia folk dance class in Seattle. They were active in a couple of folk dancing clubs, including teaching at the Sons of Norway in Poulsbo. They continued to attend social dances well in their 80's.Living close to salt water produced a love of boating he never outgrew. Starting with a rowing dinghy he finally achieved his dream - his last boat was his 3rd Monk designed cruiser. There was no one better at boat-handling, using all his skills on 4 trips to Alaska.Bob also gave service to the boating organizations he joined. He was Commodore of Poulsbo Yacht Club and also of the International Power Boat Association, and Commander of Agate Pass Power Squadron, with 50 years of service. He was an active predicted log racer, winning several races, and was Commodore of the North American Cruiser Association (NACA). Because of his contributions to the sport the NACA awarded him the Lou Gandelman Hall of Champions Award for 1996. After retiring Bob and Pat took several trips to Europe, visiting Bob's Swedish cousins, and finding new Scottish cousins for Pat. They also chartered bare-boat canal boats in France and on the Thames, transiting many locks daily, and sail boats in Greece and the Caribbean with Seattle boating friends.He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pat Johnson of Bainbridge Island, WA, children; Robin Yuen (Wes) of Beaverton, OR, Kris Johnson of Bellingham, WA, Eric Johnson (Amy) of Federal Way, WA and Craig Johnson (Paige Styler) of Milwaukee, WI. He also leaves behind his grandsons: Ethan Johnson of Seattle, WA, Noah Johnson of Federal Way, WA, Ian Johnson of Santa Rosa, CA, Jack Styler of Milwaukee, WI and granddaughter, Zoe Styler of Milwaukee, WI. Bob also leaves behind his sister Beverly Zaugg of Ketchikan, AK and brother in-law Wallace Perry of Ketchikan, AK. He was preceded in death by his parents Holger and Esther Johnson and sister Barbara Perry of Ketchikan, AK and brother in-law Wallace Perry of Ketchikan, AK. He was preceded in death by his parents Holger and Esther Johnson and sister Barbara Perry.He will be missed greatly by his family and all who knew him.Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Memorial Service on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church on Bainbridge Island, WA. A celebration of life reception will follow at the Poulsbo Yacht Club in Poulsbo, WA at 3:00 PM.​Memorial contributions can be made to Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, The Boy Scouts of America or your favorite Veterans association. Please sign the online Guest Book for the family.