April 8, 1935 — Sept. 23, 2017
Theodore (Ted) Ernest Johnson, age 82, went to be with our Lord after a fun-filled life and final day doing what he loved: helping friends on a construction project and having a great dinner filled with his typical jokes and lots of laughter with close friends and his beloved wife, Denise.
Ted was born April 8, 1935 in Monterey Park to Theodore and Sarah (Tourigney) Johnson. He graduated from Hoover High School in Glendale in 1953 and attended virtually all of the high school reunions that were held quarterly for the last several years. Ted would often joke that he went to HKU (Hard Knocks University). He began work as a framing contractor and worked his way up to be part-owner of Wier Casady Company, a construction company in Glendale, from 1970 through 1981. Wier Casady built many restaurants throughout the United States, including El Torito Mexican Restaurants, Womphopper’s, TGI Friday’s, Farrell’s and many more.
In 1981, Ted began his own construction company, Johnson & Sons, with his son, Allen and his wife, Denise. Johnson & Sons built many custom homes, restaurants and commercial buildings throughout Southern California. Ted was a master craftsman and was even recognized by the Pasadena Historical Society for his exceptional restoration of an old craftsman style home into his Johnson & Sons office on North Lake in Pasadena.
In 2000, Ted was fortunate enough to retire so that he could pursue his many interests including hunting, cooking and camping. Recently, he went on a three-generation pig hunting trip with his son Jack and his grandson, Luke. And, just a few weeks ago he went dove hunting with Jack and his nephew, Todd. Last year, Denise and Ted took their trailer across the United States for a wonderful six-week vacation where they visited many historic sites and enjoyed our beautiful country.
Ted enjoyed life to the fullest and could talk to anyone about almost anything from politics to cars, and really loved his Sunday night family barbeques and his Wednesday night pizza dinners. He could build anything, was smart and had the best sense of humor. He always had a nickname for almost all of his family and friends and loved country western music.
Ted is survived by his wife of 49 years, Denise, and his son, Jack (Suzie) Johnson, his daughter Julie (Jeremy) Milbrodt, daughter-in-law, Sue, and his six grandkids; Jamie (Ana), Robert (Heather), Madison, Luke, Jaden and Jenna and so many friends who he treated as family. Two sons predeceased him; Bobby and Allen, as well as his younger brother, Bob. Celebration of Life will be at La Cañada Presbyterian Church on Friday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ted’s name to the National Rifle Association or the Salvation Army.
