Obituary of Robert N. Johnsen

Robert Norman Johnsen – Long Branch, NJ Robert N. Johnsen, (Bob)96, born on September 20, 1917, died on Thursday October 17th 2013 at the Hospice Center of Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ. Bob was born, raised and continued to live in Brooklyn, NY until his retirement in 1976. He and his lovely and vivacious wife, Dorothy(Dot, Speedy), who married in 1947 then took up residence amongst the sun and fun of the waters and beaches of the Town of Southampton on Long Island, NY until 1997. There they hosted numerous friends and relatives to swim, boat, fish, explore, philosophize, party and to ultimately relax. When that soiree calmed they set their sights on the bucolic Rossmoor Adult Community in Monroe Twp., NJ. They made many new friends and enjoyed many great times in the 11 years they lived there until they moved to Long Branch, NJ in 2008. There they could be close to the sand and surf once again and live in a cottage on a property with their only child, their son, Robert. Bob had to grow up quickly when his father died too young in an accident that demanded that Bob, as the oldest male, start working at age 13 to help support his mother and his seven siblings. At 17, during the Great Depression, Bob joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) performing remediation to prevent forest fires as well as fight them in Wyoming and Montana. While there a major portion of his earnings were being sent back to Brooklyn to help the family. Bob proudly served his country during World War II in the United States Army as Sergeant in charge of aircraft fueling operations for the 379th Fighter Squadron which then became the Army Airforces. They were part of the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach on the coast of Normandy, France on June 6th, 1944. During the war Bob helped in the development of a new product for use in military vehicles called pressure plastics. The plastics industry literally exploded in use after the war due to the research and use of the material during the war. "One Word:Plastics" and the world was changed. After WWII Bob drove the big rigs across the East Coast until 1953 when he joined the New York City Department of Sanitation for 23 years until retiring there as a Waste Barge Traffic Manager. Bob was a past Commander of VFW Lafayette Post # 9253 and a longtime member of its Rod and Gun Club. Bob was also an avid hunter, fisherman and a lover of boating who had to be close to water of some kind. Bob is survived by a woman he loved deeply and honestly, his wife of sixty six years, Dot of Long Branch, a son, Robert also of Long Branch, a grandson, Jason of Marblehead, MA, a brother Richard(80) of Brooklyn, NY, and a sister, Helen who is 100 and also living in Brooklyn, NY. Bob was preceded in death by four sisters: Hazel, Gladys, Lillian, and Florence, and one other brother, Leonard. Let us toast a man who lived and experienced life to its fullest more than most ever could. He also loved life and enjoyed helping others love theirs too. The vision of Bob walking with his cherished wife, Dot, always hand in hand was so real and always made an impact on those who graced their path. Bob was never afraid to verbally and physically demonstrate his affection for his wife even as they would both playfully flirt with members of the opposite sex in front of each other. His memory and recitation of poems, poetry, and limericks, often a bit ribald, always captured the magic of the moment. Bob was also a clothes hog and when the occasion called for it loved to dress the part. He would even ask Dot to hem the cuffs of his sweat pants if he didn't think they fit properly. Pop taught his son, Robert the forever gift of not being afraid to work with his hands as well as his head and to be prideful of the fruits of that labor. Our love to a good man, a fun man, a happy man, a thoughtful man and a loving man whose memory is indelibly etched in our heart and soul. "Heel and Toe and Away We Go" as HE would say.