Victor Johnson

At an early age Victor Johnson discovered his love of the automobile and all things mechanical. This interest would influence his entire adult life, as Victor's knack for tearing apart and fixing things would eventually land him a stint as an instructor on auto mechanics with the U.S. Army. Friends and family will always remember Victor tinkering with his classic car collection, a collection that spanned decades of automotive innovation and even won him national recognition. Victor C. Johnson was born on February 6, 1913 in Howell, Michigan, the only child to Clarence and Iva Johnson. His family moved to Lowell when he was ten and, shortly after, settled in Rockford. Victor attended Lafayette School and Sage School in Rockford. He later attended South High School, where he was classmates with former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford. Victor eventually graduated from Union High School in Grand Rapids. One of Victor's favorite childhood memories was a trip to the Grand Rapids airport. Victor and a group of friends went to the airport to welcome Charles Lindbergh, who was touring the country after completion of his historical Trans-Atlantic flight. Victor's hobby, from a young age, was buying up old broken radios, repairing them, and then selling them for a modest profit. Victor kept this hobby for the rest of his life. Victor also earned his driver's license in 1927, at the age of 14. Back in those days a Michigan driver's license cost 50 cents and had no expiration date! Times were tough for the Johnson family, following a car accident in 1928, which left Victor's father permanently injured and unable to work. Between the car accident and the ensuing Depression, the Johnson family savings and all their other assets were wiped out. During these desperate times, Victor took whatever jobs he could rummage up to support the family. Using the modest profit he earned from his radios, Victor would occasionally buy cars in the $20.00 price range, fix them up and sell them for a small profit. He would then reinvest his profit in still more cars. In 1939, Victor and Emma Madeline Lusher met. Emma's family had recently relocated from Erlanger, Kentucky. The two seemed to hit if off and dated for two years before they eventually were married on October 3, 1941. Victor and Emma were able to purchase a home in Grand Rapids on College Avenue and a 1941 Plymouth. They spent time redecorating the house and they rented the upstairs to earn extra money. Life was good for the next few months, however, things would change for Victor and Emma following the attack on Pearl Harbor that December. Victor was drafted by the Army and told to report for duty in nine days. He was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK, where the Army quickly put his car repair skills to work, making him an instructor in motor vehicles. Emma moved to Ft. Sill with Victor, and followed him to Ft. Jackson, SC, and then to Ft. Bragg, NC, where he was later stationed. After serving his time, Victor was discharged as a warrant officer in 1945. Victor's service to his country remained important to him and he was a lifetime member of the American Legion Carl A. Johnson Post #2. Victor and Emma moved back to Grand Rapids, and Victor bought the former Standard Oil Station at Fourth and Valley NW. Victor converted it into a car lot, which is still standing today. Victor stayed involved in the business, to some degree, throughout the rest of his life. Victor said the highlight of his life, however, was the birth of his and Emma's only child, their son, Dorr. Dorr is now a police officer and has shared in his father's passion for cars from a young age.

Over the years Victor amassed quite an impressive classic automobile collection. His collection has included a Whippet, a Durand, a Pierce-Arrow convertible, a Stutz roadster, a 1973 Mustang convertible, a 1926 Buick, a 1942 Cadillac convertible, and a 1933 Continental (which was assembled at the Hayes Body Plant on the Grand Rapids West Side and Victor's personal favorite). He won a national award in Philadelphia for a 1942 Hudson from his collection. He and Emma took their first flight to retrieve the award in Philadelphia. Victor always participated in the Woodland Antique Car Tour, which was sponsored by WOOD-TV for many years. Victor was also an original member of the American Motor Car Club of America, and a member of numerous local clubs, some of which he founded. Victor was a member of the American Legion-Carl Johnson Post, and a long-standing member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society. He was very well versed in the history of the city, and he often recalled a time when many cars, such as the Austin, the Harrison, and the DeVaux were built in and around the Grand Rapids area. Even the Michigan Hearse Co. enjoyed a short life here before going out of business. Victor and Emma were longtime members of Valley Avenue Methodist Church, and later, Faith United Methodist Church. Aside from being active in church activities, Victor and Emma enjoyed attending dances together at the West Side Senior Neighbor Center. Victor, although he never learned to play an instrument, loved to listen to music. He was especially a fan of big band era music. In his later years, Victor volunteered countless hours at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Victor passed away Thursday, January 8, 2004. He will be deeply missed by family, friends and many others in this community. Victor is survived by Emma Madeline, his wife of 62 years; his son and daughter-in-law Dorr and Carla Johnson of Caledonia; two granddaughters Pamela (Carl) Van Faasen of Holland and Lisa Johnson of Caledonia, her fiance Duc Duong, one great-grandson Neil Van Faasen and special family friend, Jim Brown. Funeral services for Victor will be held Monday at 11 AM at Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, with Rev. Geoffrey Hayes officiating. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. To read Victor's life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Faith United Methodist Church or the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, please visit his personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com. Whether you remember him with his hands dirty from tinkering with the newest acquisition to his classic car collection, or with a smile on his face as he greeted you at a Sunday morning worship service, one thing is certain - Victor Johnson will always be remembered as a man who spent time doing the things he loved most, with the people he loved most.