Mr. Lawrence W. Johnson passed away on September 23, 2020 at the age of 96. He was a resident of Northbrook for over 60 years and he most recently lived at Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire. Larry was married to his dear wife Loretta (nee Sesterhenn) for 50 years until her death in 2004. Together they lovingly raised three children, Randy (Mary), Marilyn, and Russell (Jennifer). Larry deeply loved his five grandchildren Dana (Cody Langellier), Philip (Sarah), Grace Khoury (Bryan), Charles, and Reid as well as his great-granddaughter Colette Khoury.
Larry grew up in Park Ridge, son of the late Edwin and Florence Johnson. He graduated from Maine Township High School, and was a proud Engineering graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology and a Navy veteran. Larry had a successful 45-year career in the commercial insurance industry. Early in his career he travelled throughout the western United States evaluating major buildings for fire risks and proposing safety improvements. He later returned to Chicago where he met Lorie while both were working at Marsh and McLennan. They married in 1953 and Larry continued to work for Marsh and McLennan where he had a long and successful tenure managing risks for firms in the forest products industry.
Larry and Lorie traveled widely, visiting all seven continents and every state. In addition to their world travels they deeply enjoyed their annual trips to Florida’s west coast. Their children and grandchildren cherish many happy memories of those trips. Larry and Lorie’s travels inspired their children and grandchildren to have many travel adventures of their own.
Larry loved two sports, golf and curling. He enjoyed playing golf when he was younger and watched it fanatically as he got older. He was a long-time member of the Chicago Curling Club. He participated in bonspiels with his fellow Old Boys all the way through age 92. He was also a good dancer and he and Lorie were members of the Shore Club for many years.
Although he was a quiet man, he was fond of bending anyone’s ear about how they should take up golf, invest for retirement, pay attention to Illinois politics, or travel to unique places. He might casually mention that he passed through the Panama Canal nine times. The stories of the people he went through the Canal with or traveled on a bus with or had dinner with were always most inspiring. He had pluck and a toughness about him surrounded by a layer of curiosity and humility.
A private memorial celebrating Larry’s life will be held at a later date.
