Kenneth Raymond Johnson

Kenneth Raymond Johnson, 95, of Fort Wayne, son of the late Ira S. Johnson and Hazel Minnie (Rockwell) Johnson, died peacefully on January 5, 2026.

Ken was born on January 23, 1930, in Pensacola, Florida, where he was raised with his four sisters. He graduated from Duke University in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, then went to Northwestern University for a master’s degree in engineering. While at Northwestern, he met his beloved wife, Martha Ann Yokel, and they were married on December 28, 1954. He volunteered for the Navy, and after three years of service, he completed his master’s degree in 1960. He then taught at the college level in Albuquerque, NM, where their two daughters, Karen and Alice, were born.

Wanting more commercial experience, Ken joined Boeing to work in their aviation industry in Seattle, WA, then quickly transferred to Huntsville, AL, where he spent five years working on the Saturn V rocket booster. After completion of that program, his love of teaching led Ken to earn a PhD in engineering from the University of Illinois in 1971, followed by a long career in the Purdue University Engineering department at the Fort Wayne, IN campus, where he retired as Professor Emeritus and past Chair of Engineering.

Ken was a quieter man who was very analytical and liked to do things independently, but with a dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. He was always observant, thoughtful, generous, and very fair, as noted by his students. He had a creative side, enjoying woodworking and architecture. He designed two houses for the family, one in Seattle, WA, the other in Huntsville, AL, which was a wonderful family home built on a bluff on Monte Sano. His other hobbies included vegetable gardening, watching college football, and doing a daily Sudoku.

The most important parts of Ken’s life were his family and his church community. He loved Marty, his wife of nearly 70 years, helping her in her volunteer organizations, and being her constant companion. He supported and loved his two daughters, giving them a world with no limitations as long as they set goals and worked hard to achieve them. Through the years the family traveled often to visit relatives, attend family reunions in Florida and Indiana, and explore the U.S. When grandchildren came along, he and Marty hosted spring break trips to Edisto Island, SC, and traveled to Squam Lake, NH and the Boston area every year for summer and holiday visits with all the kids.

Ken always made his values part of his daily life, and he and Marty joined a church in every place they lived. In Ft. Wayne, as longtime members of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, they attended church services, went to adult Sunday school, and volunteered often for wherever the church needed help. Even the pandemic did not stop their attendance, as Ken, at the age of 90, wired up a camera and microphone on their computer so they could participate in remote services.

When it came time to finally move out of their home of 50 years, Ken and Marty found a new home at Towne House in Ft. Wayne. They enjoyed spending hours with each other, meeting new people, attending weekly chapel, and going to musical events.

Ken is survived by his sister, Elaine Nichols, of Brownwood, TX, and his sister, Lorraine Dawson, of Corpus Christi, TX; his daughter, Karen von Loesecke, and her husband David, of Hingham MA, and their children, Emily, Claire and her husband, Casey Fox, and Jeffrey; his daughter, Alice von Loesecke, and her husband Peter, of Harvard MA, and their children, Kristen Schaefer and her husband, Tobias, and Tyler and his wife, Leah Sax. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Marty, his sister Yvonne Scott, and his sister, Sylvia Chambers.

A memorial service will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Towne House Chapel 2209 St. Joe Road (46825).

The family is requesting that any donations in Ken’s honor be made to the ASME Foundation (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) for undergraduate scholarships. https://www.asmefoundation.org/programs/stemeducation/asme-scholarships/ Ken was a longtime member of the society and believed strongly in helping support the education of the next generation of engineers.

Fond memories and expression of sympathy may be shared at www.mccombandson.com for the Johnson Family.