Bryan Johnston

Never afraid to speak his mind, Bryan Johnston was a man who everyone seemed to know. He was adventurous, even fearless, and he was passionate about anything with a motor. Bryan was blessed to spend many years of his life with his true love with whom he shared an enduring love throughout the easy and hard times that came their way. He was all about family through and through, and he adored his “children” whether his nieces and nephews or those of the four-legged variety. Some will remember Bryan for the way he equipped everything he owned with a trailer hitch while others will remember him for his passion for Fords, but all who knew him will remember him for his unmatched zest for life.

The fifties were a time unlike any other in American history as the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum while the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union was in full swing as well. People were listening to rock ‘n roll and watching shows such as The Donna Reed Show and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. It was in the year 1956 that Robert and Marilyn Johnston welcomed the birth of their son, Bryan, on August 28th. Bryan was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the middle of three boys in his family. He was raised on Pickerel Lake and even from a young age, he had an insatiable sense of adventure. Bryan was great at water skiing, rode dirt bikes, and enjoyed ice skating, too. He attended local schools including Vicksburg High School where he played football.

After graduating from high school in 1974, Bryan worked at Amco Transition as a technician for four years. His career path then took him to American Freight Systems where he worked as a semi-driver locally and within the city. Bryan eventually ended up at Alvan Motor Freight where he worked over the road and was also a dock worker – jobs he truly enjoyed. His work at Alvan soon brought him more than just a paycheck as it set the stage for an introduction to a young woman who would forever change the course of his life. Her name was Tammy, and she worked in the office. They didn’t like each other at first since she thought Bryan was just a snob with a nice car, and they seemed more than content to just pick on each other.

From that starting point in the spring of 1978, an attraction brewed between Bryan and Tammy until August of the following year when they officially began dating. From the moment Bryan gave Tammy the keys to his beloved 1978 two-door brown Thunderbird, the car he still has to this day, she knew it was true love. From then on, Bryan and Tammy were officially together. They were married on June 18, 1982, at the Kalamazoo Court House. The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon at both Cedar Point and Sea World with a trailer they rented hitched to the back of the Thunderbird, of course. The groom even made sure that he made a sign stating “Just Married,” which he proudly displayed on the back of the trailer.

Although Bryan and Tammy never had any children, their lives were overflowing with love. They always had dogs that were like their children. Over the years they treasured Rex, Smurf, Cody, Doris, Zachariah, and their current dog, Woofy. Bryan and Tammy were also known to take in stray cats. They settled into a home on Chrysler Street where they remained throughout Bryan’s life. In the early nineties, Bryan went back to school and earned his Master Technician certification. He then began working for East Main Auto and then later, for Wisser’s Service in Parchment. Bryan has been unable to work for the past seven years due to his affliction with Dupuytren’s Contracture in both hands. He underwent surgeries for both hands on more than one occasion, but his hands were far from healed.

Throughout his life, Bryan loved anything with a motor. He raced both three wheelers and four wheelers and was undefeated every year. Bryan was even sponsored by Mel and Tony South from Mel’s Motorcycles in Mattawan. He did some sand dune racing at Silver Lake where he again went undefeated. Bryan even loved his little “go-ped” motor scooter and was a fan of watching most any kind of racing, too. Bryan and his brother Todd were fans of World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, and he went to the time trials at Indianapolis each year as well. He was also a fan of NASCAR, but only of those who drove Fords. Bryan loved National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and drag racing with his Ford truck, and he also watched his friend, Mike Hansen, drag race. When he wasn’t busy with racing of some kind, Bryan also enjoyed grilling, although never on a gas grill, his Miller High Life, and his mother-in-law's pizza.

Bryan was very involved in the lives of his extended family. He watched his nieces and nephews often during their younger years and did anything for them. Bryan went to every event that he could in which they were involved and even if that activity was not his cup of tea, Bryan was there in the front row. In fact, his nieces and nephews all said that their Uncle Bryan was their favorite, and he never missed a family function of any kind.

When Tammy was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2005, Bryan was wonderfully supportive of her and became actively involved with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as well. Sadly, Bryan was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in his right lung on Easter Sunday in 2009 from which he was unable to recover.

Bryan Johnston was very opinionated and never afraid to speak his mind. He could even be stubborn about things he felt passionate about. Bryan loved racing and his cars, so much so that everyone knew not to touch his cars, trucks, or toys. Whether he was watching University of Michigan football, enjoying a cold beer, or just spending time with his wife, Bryan savored every moment he was given. He was a remarkable man who will be dearly missed by many.

Bryan Johnston died February 7, 2010 in Kalamazoo. Bryan’s family includes his wife, Tammy Johnston; two brothers: Todd (Amy) Johnston and Mark (Pam) Johnston; in-laws: Richard and Marilyn Majewski, Therese (Bill) Holdeman, John (Susan) Majewski, Cathy Dobbs, Stephen Majewski, Matthew (Tanisha) Majewski, Elizabeth (Rick) Cornell and Janet Majewski; nieces and nephews: Michael, Angie, Brittany, Luke, Andrew, Nathan, Matthew Jr., Ryan, Ally, Collin, Connor and Alysa; and his loyal friend, Woofy. Bryan was preceded in death by a two brothers-in-law, Chris Majewski and Ervin Dobbs. Services will be held Thursday 4:00 p.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes – Kalamazoo, MI; 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900 (jeans and t-shirts please) followed by a reception at the family home (8765 S. 12th St). Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo, sign his memory book before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to West Michigan Cancer Center or Juvenile Diabetes Associations.