Stan Johnson
1939 - 2008
FCHS mourns the passing of a great man.
Stan Johnson
Stan Johnson was very active with the Flagg Creek Heritage Society. He was a past President and had been most recently serving as Vice President. In addition, he was Committee Chairman of the Flagg Creek Heritage Center museum project. But he did so much more than that.
Stan was also the Director of the River Thru History Rendezvous (previously named the I&M Canal Rendezvous). He was one of the originators of and always a key player in the Rendezvous. His tireless efforts were an integral part of the continued success of the event.
Portaging a canoe at the River Thru History Rendezvous
Stan was one of the founders and Chairman of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Civic Center Authority. The CCA is a governmental organization committed to the cultural, historic, recreational and economic development of the National Heritage Corridor. It is the parent organization of the Rendezvous and was until recently the sole sponsor.
During his work with the CCA, Stan was one of the few people to recognize the historical significance of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. Through his efforts, the CCA funded and erected the magnificent statue of Marquette and Joliett - as well as helped to fund the many interpretive signs at the site.
Statue of Marquette and Joliett at the Chicago Portage
Stan spearheaded the work to preserve and was the coordinator of the Santa Fe Prairie in Hodgkins, IL. This 10.8 acre prairie is one of the rarest types of Illinois prairie, only two of its kind exist in the state. It was donated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in 1997 to the Civic Center Authority which now owns and manages this high quality prairie. More than 225 native plant species have been recorded at the site, many of which only survive in such a prairie.
Santa Fe Prairie photo by Don Kinnally
Amazingly, he accomplished most of this IN HIS RETIREMENT! During his professional career, he was a chemist at Argonne National Laboratory. He retired from Argonne at 55 but continued as a part-time consultant for years. While at Argonne, Stan was involved in a project that created a device able to analyze air quality in mass amounts. The device was awarded the Research & Development 100 annual award, an industrywide honor that recognizes America's top inventions. This device was used by scientists after the volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
Because of these and the thousands of other things Stan Johnson did for our communities, he will indeed be sorely missed.
The following is a poem written by Stan's sister-in-law Margaret Johnson, and read by her at Stan's memorial service:
STAN
A River Thru History
A River thru History
That seems an appropriate title
For a man so full of living
And to whom nature was so vital!
Like a river, Stan was constantly flowing,
Strong current, new projects 'round every bend
When asked 'bout things he'd say "I'm SO busy!!!"
But his hand he always would lend!
And his banks were always overflowing
With ideas, opinions and thoughts
And like a river, always flowing one way
He'd prefer the opinions HE'S got!!!
His stream of life was full
From the little things up to the top
'cause when a person met up with STAN JOHNSON,
His presence was never forgot!
His love of nature was evident
Even in his quotes like "A Tree is a Tree"
Get-togethers at the farm with the family
Are all part of his history!
The fish in his river are many
Friends and family fill up the water
With Eileen, ''the catch of his life"
And his wonderful son and daughter!!
SO we send you now off on your voyage
Off to the Big Ocean you go!
Gin fills our cup (with an olive!)
And raise our glass high and say "SKOAL!!"