TURLOCK, CA (December 16, 2003) – A memorial service was held on Saturday at the Covenant Village of Turlock for retired ordained Covenant pastor Henry M. Johanson, who died last Wednesday at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock.
Johanson, a former director of Christian education for what is now known as the Pacific Southwest Conference, had been living at Covenant Village for many years, said Covenant Village of Turlock chaplain Bob Atkins. Atkins and Robert “Bob” Anderson officiated at Saturday’s service.
The 88-year-old Johanson was born March 14, 1915, in Kingsburg, California, and earned his undergraduate degree from San Jose State College (now university) in 1941. He married Kezia Rudin in San Jose on June 14, 1942, after serving as interim pastor at Maplewood Covenant Church in Chicago. After they married, Johanson was assistant pastor at what is now Edgebrook Covenant Church for one year. He also completed his ministerial education at North Park Theological Seminary, earning his diploma in 1943.
Johanson served from 1943 to 1950 at Mission Covenant Church in Stockton, California, and was ordained during the 1947 Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. After six years (1950-56) at First Mission Covenant Church in Moline, Illinois, Johanson became director of Christian education for the conference from 1956-61. He then returned to a full-time church pastorate at Trinity Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then served as an interim pastor for two Evangelical United congregations while taking class work at St. Cloud State College in 1967.
Following a four-year period (1968-72) at Richland Covenant Church in Richland, Michigan, Johanson served at four churches in interim pastorates – including five years at First Covenant Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa – before retiring in 1980.
Two children, Karen and Bonnie, and six grandchildren survive Johanson. His wife, Kezia, preceded him in death.
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