Rev. William Francis Johnson
CHICAGO — Reverend William Francis Johnson went to eternal rest on Sept. 19, 2018 at his home in Chicago, Ill. William was lovingly cared for by Ethan and Eleanor. Funeral Services will be held Oct. 6, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Atonement, Chicago Ill. Interment of ashes will be in the clumbarium at the Church of Atonement. William served his entire ministry with the people of the Church of Atonement from 1964 to his retirement in 2004. He was a pioneer for social justice initiatives in Chicago and one of the founders of Care for Real, the Edgewater community’s food pantry and clothing closet.
William was born on July 4, 1935 to Carl and Cecile Johnson in Schaffer. He attended schools in Schaffer and Escanaba, graduating from Escanaba Area High School. He went on to attend Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Ill. and Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston, Ill.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Richard and sisters Mary Ann, Joan and Cynthia.
He is survived by his brother Steven and sisters Deborah and Carlotta, 17 nieces and nephews and 27 great nieces and nephews.
His leisure time was spent traveling throughout Europe, South American and Thailand. He also took many trips around the United States. He was particularly fond of spending time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan camping with friends and family; exploring its wilderness, driving on its gravel roads and meeting its wild inhabitants and residents.