Herb Johnson died on Sept. 27, 2019 at the age of 83 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Herb was born June 3rd, 1936 in St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge to Ted and Luverne Johnson, who owned a farm in Maybutt at the time. They moved around Southern Alberta during his childhood, eventually settling in Nanton, where he attended high school. He grew up during the Depression and World War II, and he loved to tell people of the “war wound” he received when he fell off his bike at age 9 and injured his knee. When asked to write down some of his life experiences, he said his favourite memory as a child was when his father would take him along to listen to his band play at dances. “Life doesn’t get much better than that”. He also wrote “I’ve only had two bikes my entire life…. that’s an interesting fact. Or maybe it isn’t”.
Herb met his wife Cathie at the University of Alberta, where they both eventually graduated with B. Eds. They married in 1959, and had daughters Rae in 1960, and Jill in 1963. Herb started his career announcing at CKUA, which allowed him to indulge his passion for music, particularly jazz. He later worked at CBC Radio in Toronto, and CHRB in High River, both announcing and producing radio shows and albums. The house was always filled with music, whether recorded or live, as Herb could play saxophone, clarinet, flute, and pretty much anything with a reed on it. Music was his lifeblood and his gift, which he shared with many.
Herb had some career and address changes in his life, but no matter where he was he lived by this credo, which he would repeat to his daughters whenever they went out: “Live clean, play fair, brush your teeth, wear a jacket”. Sometimes we snuck out without the jacket.
Herb is survived by his wife Cathie; daughters Rae Johnson and Jill Kotchon; grandchildren Amanda and Paul; sisters Pat (George) Meyer and Roberta Robinson; brother Dino (Janice) Johnson, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
At Herb’s request, there will be no funeral, but,
if desired, donations may be made to JDRF at
www.jdrf.ca, a cause close to his heart.
To email condolences please visit
www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements in care of
Snodgrass Funeral Home, High River.
(403-652-2222)
