Obituary – Arnold Johnson, 80

Obituary – Arnold Johnson, 80

Arnold, age 80.

Arnold Johnson, age 80 of Owego, N.Y., died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, joining his friends and family in heaven after a 20-year go-round with Parkinson’s disease.

Arnie grew up on the family farm in Ridgway where he learned to enjoy hard work, the love of a big family and the great outdoors. He served in the U.S. Army in Chile, South America where he was involved in satellite tracking. He then earned an engineering degree and worked at IBM in Owego, N.Y.

In 1976, he started what is now Johnson’s Pools and Spas in the garage of his home. Arnie retired from IBM at age 51 to pursue the pool business full-time. He continued to work until he absolutely was physically unable to continue.

Arnie was a man’s man, always saw the good in everyone, would give you the shirt off his back, never met a stranger, and would try to help anyone with anything, even long after his disease would not allow him to do so. He especially loved fishing, making hay at Eric’s, camping, deer hunting, a hot card game, playing volleyball, Sunday family suppers, all the Johnson Family Reunions, and puttering in his garage.

Arnie could fix a car, milk a cow, plow a field, split a cord of wood, or fix any pool problem. He built his house, his store, tree houses, barns, roofs and tire swings. Arnie was especially proud of his Swedish heritage. He will be missed terribly.

Arnie was a 50-year member of the Owego Presbyterian church, a Habitat for Humanity Volunteer and active with The Tioga County Boys and Girls Club.

Arnie leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Susan; a son, Eric (Janice); two daughters, Audra (Jonathan) Marks and Sonya (A. Charles) Bement; eight grandchildren, David, Scott, Adam, Kristen, Jessie, Luke, Casey and Jonathan, all of Owego, N.Y.; one brother, Bruce (Nora); three sisters, Joyce Rhines and Marlene (Scott) Pierce of Ridgway, and Gloria (Harold) Seames of Geneva, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Althea Buehler of DuBois; along with dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins that he loved with all his heart and unconditionally, each and every one.

Per his request, there will be no funeral. Instead, he would like the family to throw a celebration of life party to be held at a later date. Val se yiu I himlan papa! (See you in heaven, Dad). Instead of flowers, Arnie asks you to consider a donation to the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, Owego, N.Y.

Finally, heartfelt love and thanks to Anna Sopka for her beautiful, tender and compassionate care.