We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel James Victor “Vic" Johnson, CD (Ret’d), PEng , peacefully on 9 September 2020 in Ottawa ON at age 94. Vic was a Korean War veteran.
Vic was a graduate of the School of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. After working for a year with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, he enlisted in the Canadian Forces with the Royal Canadian Engineers and was soon deployed to serve in the Korean War *. Vic returned to South Korea in 2003 attend the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.
Vic‘s Canadian Military Engineer career included postings to Kentville and Halifax NS, Chilliwack BC, Whitehorse YT, Soest Germany, Ottawa ON, Shilo MB, Montreal QC, and, finally, back to Ottawa. He also deployed on the United Nations India-Pakistan Observer Mission (UNIPOM) (1965-66). His favourite time was the time he spent on the Northwest Highway System during the reconstruction of the Alaska Highway after the collapse of the Peace River Bridge in 1957.
Vic retired from the Canadian Forces at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after more than 24 years of service and joined the Department of National Defence as a public servant as the Director of Utilities and Municipal Properties. After retiring from this second career, Vic stayed busy with his many passions and hobbies. He excelled at photography, gardening, and woodworking. In addition to golf, he loved to curl and cross country ski. Vic extensively researched the family trees for both Johnson and Faloon families. He met and kept in touch with family members from across the globe and travelled twice to Ireland. Vic volunteered his time to many causes. He was a 40-year member of the Cedarhill Golf Club and was an active member of the Manordale-Woodvale Community Association for many years. Vic was a strong supporter of the Military Engineers Association of Canada at both the chapter and national level. He was always ready to contribute his corporate knowledge of Canadian Military Engineers and the details of the careers of his colleagues. Vic was a co-author of the book: “UBIQUE ! Canadian Military Engineers: A Century of Service.” He was also part of the team that produced “Volume III -The History of the Canadian Military Engineers“ where he was a contributor to the research and writing of this volume as well as the fundraising.
A private family wake is planned, followed by a funeral mass that will take place on Tuesday, September 15th at 11:00 am at St. Maurice Church (4 Perry Street, Ottawa). Due to COVID-19, all attendees must adhere to COVID-19 protocol, wear a mask and are asked to RSVP under Service Details section in the funeral home obituary. The Mass will also be live-streamed at youtu.be/Joucf7qhkbk for those who want to attend virtually. Donations in memory of Vic can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society and online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. {khSep2020}
* Vic tells his story in Korea in "The Memory Project. "
