Harold (Jim) Johnson (13 Jan 1935 - 10 Dec 2016)

In loving memory of Harold James Johnson ("Jim", "Jimmy", "Johnny") who sadly passed away December 10th 2016 aged 81 years.

Always kind and generous to a fault, always looking on the bright side, always great fun, always going out of his way to help people, forever unique and special..... If you met Jim, you didn't forget him in a hurry.

Jim was one of four children. Jim had two brothers, Ken (sadly no longer with us), Dennis and a sister Daphne (Mary). The children spent most of their childhood in a children's home or with foster parents during the WW2, and were separated for most of this time. Soon after Jim's father Harold returned from the war, Jim went to work for his dad as a bound apprentice.

Seven years later Jim qualified as a City & Guilds Master painter and decorator, but at 21, Jim decided to spread his wings and joined the Royal Air Force, where he served for 22 years. During Jim's service in the RAF he spent much time overseas in several different countries. Jim's major postings were Wegberg in Germany, Changi in Singapore and Gibraltar, where many happy times were enjoyed with his young family. Jim loved the RAF and would often recount his cheerful memories to family and friends. Remember the crane everyone?

Jim married his childhood sweetheart Arlene in 1958. In 1959 his eldest daughter Kay was born, followed by his second daughter Katina in 1961 and his son Stephen in 1964. Jim was a devoted husband, dad, granddad and great granddad, and liked nothing more than spending time with his family, planning trips and outings and getting everyone involved with his latest hobby, of which there were many... breeding Siamese fighters, badge making, butterfly catching, to name just a few... there was never a dull or boring moment in the Johnson household. Jim was always cracking a joke or two and if you ever felt low, five minutes in Jim's company would have you on top of the world again... "Life's too short to be miserable ducky..."

Jim had six grandchildren, twins Rosella and Francesca, Carlina, Lucia, Andrew and Kerry, and was always on hand to entertain them and run them around to various clubs and events in and around Lincoln. Every year Jim would organise a family outing where the entire Johnson clan would be whisked off in a mini bus to a mystery destination, which usually involved some form of musical entertainment at the other end, while Jim chanted "a family that plays together, stays together..." In recent years Jim's five great grandchildren arrived on the scene, Mollie, Tristram, Ralph, Sophia May and Ellie May.

In 1978 Jim retired from the RAF with an exemplary discharge, and deciding he'd had enough of being told what to do, he became self-employed, setting up his own painting and decorating business in Lincoln. Jim continued to work for himself until his "retirement" aged 70, but not one one to sit around, Jim decided to go back to school and studied for three years at Newark & Sherwood College and became a piano tuner.

Jim had a passionate love of music and people, and loved variety and talent shows. Jim played music by ear and would regularly rock up at old people's homes with his latest keyboard, where he had a captive audience, and would play all the old tunes to entertain the residents. Every Sunday you could find Jim at Hemswell Cliff, on the old RAF base, where he rented a room, and filled it with countless keyboards and electronic organs. There he would entertain the general public all day long with occasional guest appearances from his granddaughter Carlina, and hopefully sell a keyboard or two.

Aged 74 Jim developed the early signs of vascular dementia; and a severe stroke a few years later left Jim with serious physical disabilities. Jim's devoted wife Arlene tried her utmost to care for Jim at home, but his needs were too great for one person to cope alone. Jim spent his final years at Newton House in Grantham, where the nursing care was outstanding... Despite Jim's deteriorating condition he could usually manage one of his cheeky smiles, right up until the very end...

"Jim", "Jimmy", "Johnny" Johnson was truly one in a million. Clever, kind, funny, cheerful, generous, devoted, hard working, dependable... there are too many superlatives to list to describe how wonderful a person Jim was... Nothing ever stopped Jim from putting other people first, not even an FA Cup Final... Jim was always there for his family and friends whenever they needed him.

An exceptional husband, dad, granddad, great granddad and loyal friend... sorely missed by everyone who knew him, but never forgotten...

God saw that you were weary, and did what he knows best,
He put his arms around you and whispered come and rest...

~~~~~