Bruce Allen Johnson, 58, of Milpitas, CA, and formerly of LaPorte, died Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at the Palo Alto, CA, Veterans Hospital as the result of an accident he had while coming back from camping on May 31, 2013, which left him mostly paralyzed.
He was born Jan. 29, 1956, in Lafayette, IN, to Melvin Edward and Alice Elizabeth (Black) Johnson.
Bruce graduated from LaPorte High School, where he was a pitcher on the LaPorte Slicers baseball team. He attended Ball State University. A U.S. Army veteran, Bruce was stationed in Germany where he served on the Ski Patrol. Bruce worked at Varian and Novellus in San Jose, CA, in the computer chip industry for over 25 years before joining MiaSole’ in the solar panel industry. Bruce was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman who loved camping, biking, and especially kayaking on weekends. He was very creative in gardening, arranging flowers, landscaping, and decorating his beautiful home that he loved. He had a heart of gold and loved his grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughter, Nina (Beattie II) Roggasch; four grandchildren, Beattie III, James, Jonathan and Shyann Roggasch; his mother; two brothers, Terry (LaQueta) Johnson of Coral Springs, FL, and Keith (Judy) Johnson; two sisters, Cynthia (Brian) Swanson and Kathy (Marty) Geiger; two nephews; three nieces; several aunts and uncles; and special friend, Linda.
He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Lambs Chapel United Methodist Church, LaPorte, with Pastor Lynn Breeden officiating. Visitation will be at the church Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. A private family burial with full military honors will take place at Patton Cemetery, LaPorte. Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Compassion Ministry of Lambs Chapel United Methodist Church, c/o Jackie Steele, 6006 N. Fail Rd., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.
