Dean Henning Johnson
April 9, 1934 - August 15, 2017
Dean Henning Johnson died on August 15, 2017 at age 83 at home in Piedmont, CA. The son of Anne Underwood Walker and Henning Emmanuel Johnson born April 9, 1934 in Tacoma, WA. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Nancy Maxwell Johnson, his son, Reed Maxwell Johnson and wife, Anna, and grandchildren, Dylan James Havling and Elizabeth Maxwell Johnson of Oakland, CA. Preceded by brother, Kenneth Johnson (Margaret). Survived by sister-in-law, Martha Loyd (Larry), and nephew, Brian Johnson (Judy), and nieces Debbie Gittel (Terry), and Cindy Clutter (John), and Susan Puckett (Dan), and Laura Loyd Davis (Jim). Also, cousins Doug, Ruth and Eddie Carl.
Dean grew up in Steilacoom, WA, on Puget Sound. He graduated from Pioneer School; then Clover Park High School in 1952. He attended Stanford University where he made lifelong friends, joined the Alpine Club, and served in the Air Force ROTC. He graduated in 1957 with a BS in Industrial Engineering. During summers, Dean earned the next year’s expenses by digging graves at the New Tacoma Cemetery.
While a Lieutenant at Wright-Patterson AFB, he earned his Masters in Industrial Engineering at Ohio State University. Later, he taught statistics at Wittenberg University and skied, hiked and climbed in Chile & Peru.
Returning to Bay Area in 1961, he enjoyed a long and interesting career at Southern Pacific RR (SP), most in Management Services, the computer department. He worked in various technical and management positions. As a SP recruiter, he was the first to hire women as computer programmers. His wife Nancy was one of those women. He finished his career at IBM.
In retirement, he enjoyed consulting and community involvement. He worked with Piedmont UPSD Technology Committee & Strategic Planning Committee He took great pride serving on the board of the Friends of Oakland Public Library. He enjoyed serving as an officer of Southern Pacific Retired Executives Club and the MS Picnic Committee. Most importantly he loved his family and friends with great joy and humor.
The family extends gratitude to Vitas Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Friends of the Oakland Public Library, Alameda County Community Food Bank or charity of your choice.