George Herbert Johnson

San Jose, surrounded by family, after battling pancreatic cancer.

He was born on Nov. 15th, 1952 in Binghamton, NY, and was the second of four sons of Milo and Evelyn Johnson. Raised and educated first in NY and then in the Bay Area, George graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1970. It was here that he met his wife, Grete Hafstad. They married on a rainy afternoon, Feb.1st, 1976, in Los Gatos, and honeymooned in Lake Tahoe. Soon after, they moved to what would become their life-long home on Skyline Blvd – a place they named with their matching initials: GHJ Tree Farm. I was their first child, born in March 1977. In 1980 and 1983, respectively, their sons were born: Dale and Kyle.

It may come as a surprise to know he proudly obtained his Private Pilot's License in 1972!

George followed in his father's footsteps, working at IBM by day, and in the Christmas trees on

Skyline by evening and weekends. At Christmas, he took some of his trees to his parents' Peacock Tree Farm to sell, and later opened his own choose-and-cut Christmas Tree Farm (GHJ Tree Farm), which he operated as late as last year. He also cultivated an orchard of apple trees. He was extremely proud of these apples, and sold and shared them generously over the years. Many knew him for his annual apple cider-making parties.

Soon after moving to Skyline, George joined the volunteer fire department, which he ultimately

captained for 32 years. In 2007 he retired from his long career at IBM (first in the machine shop, then in procurement), and in 2010 he retired from the South Skyline Volunteer Fire Department,

Company 21.

Over the years, if he wasn't at IBM, on a fire call, or in the orchard on a tractor or up a ladder, he was often found cycling with Grete, or doing any of the numerous activities of parenthood with his

children. They will tell you, he was the best dad they could have ever hoped for. He was a true friend and mentor.

George is survived by his daughter April Stearns and her husband Joseph and George's granddaughter Nia of Santa Cruz, CA; his son Dale Johnson and his partner Amy Mecchi and Amy's daughter Ella of Coarsegold, CA; his son Kyle Johnson and his wife Whitney and George's grandchild on the way of Coos Bay, OR. He is also survived by his brother Milo Johnson and his wife Jill of Palo Cedro, CA; and his brother Craig Johnson and his wife Ramona of Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and cousins.

George was preceded in death by his wife Grete; his father Milo A. Johnson;

his mother Evelyn Herbert Johnson; and his younger brother Jerome Johnson.

– April Johnson Stearns