Obituary

Gerald G. (Jerry) Johnson was born November 17, 1938, in Menominee, MI and spent his early life in Marinette, WI. He graduated from Marinette High School with the Class of 1957. In 1958 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and later transferred his service to the Marine Corps Reserve.

Jerry spent most of his adult life in Washington State and started in the towing industry in 1966 on Snoqualmie Pass. In 1968 he moved to Bellingham and bought a full-service Shell Station complete with a tow truck. The towing and auto repair business got a hold of him and in 1974, he sold the Shell Station and purchased Horton’s Towing & Auto Repair. In 1985 he then purchased the competing tow company in town, Johnson’s Towing. He operated these two companies for the next 17 years until he retired in 2002 when he sold both companies to his son Dan.

He not only served our country, but the local community as well, as a member of the Fairhaven Lion’s club, the Marine Corp League, and Toys 4 Tots. He loved ice skating at the Sportsplex and often spoke of his adventures on a Navy Icebreaker, crossing the Arctic Circle, and holding hands with penguins in the Antarctic. Of course, there are also countless towing & recovery stories. Jerry passed away on September 23rd, 2023, with family by his side. He will be missed.

Jerry is survived by three children, Carry (Greg) Mattocks, Darlene Johnson and Daniel (Elena) Johnson, Sr.; grandchildren, Amanda (Bryen) Graver, Drew (Karly) Mattocks, Daniel “DJ” Johnson, Jr. and Isabella (Jordan) Peterson; one great-grandchild, Luka; sisters, Susan Santy, Cynthia (Jeff) Hubert and Jean (Larry) Smith; nieces and nephews; and is further survived by Zylkowski family members.

He joins in heaven, his wife and the love of his life, Karen; parents, George and Helen Johnson and Lyola and Ben Zylkowski.

A memorial service will be held @ 2:00pm on November 3, 2023, at Greenacres Memorial Park, Ferndale, WA with reception to follow at Rustler’s in Lynden, WA.