Wilkes Louis "Lou" Johnson

Lou Johnson, a 42-year resident of Novato, died in a Palm Springs area hospital on July 9th. He was 70 years old. Lou was born and raised in Madison, where he attended the University of Wisconsin. His education was interrupted by several years of service in the Army during the Korean War. Upon graduation in 1957 with a degree in Physical Therapy, Lou moved with his wife, Elizabeth Ann, and their young son, Stewart Louis, to Santa Rosa, California, happy to leave the Midwest's snowy winters behind. A daughter, Jean Marie, was born in1959, and later that year the family moved to Novato, where Lou established a private practice which flourished until his retirement in 1995. Lou and five doctors purchased property adjacent to Novato General Hospital in 1965 and had the 31-unit Indian Valley Medical Center built.

Lou was highly involved in Novato civics. He served on the Novato Parks and Recreation Commission from 1964 ­ 1972, and was Chairman in 1970. During that time, the city bought the O'Hare property and established Pioneer Park. He was also instrumental in the development of Arroyo Avichi Park at the end of Taft Court where he lived since 1967. He was President of the Rancho Elementary School PTA in 1969 and 1970. He also served on the Novato Bike & Pedestrian Committee in the 1990's.

Lou was a physically active person, involved in playing and managing softball and basketball, and later managing for the Babe Ruth Baseball League. He was a member of the Velo Club Miwok Bicycle Club and rode in over 30 century rides (100 miles) in Northern California. He served as President of that club in 1979. He was a long-standing member of the Rolling Hills Club having joined the original San Marin Club upon it's opening in the 1960's.

Lou was a very social person. He kept up with his group of friends from East High School in Madison, WI, writing and visiting often over the years. He joined Kiwanis in 1961, serving as speaker chairman for several years and as President in 1981. He was a member of Toastmaster's in the 1970's, serving as President during that time. Lou also enjoyed his membership in SIR's since 1996. During his 42 years as a physical therapist in Novato he treated hundreds of Novatoans, many of whom remember him fondly.

Since retiring in 1995, he and his dear friend and companion, Marilyn "Kris" Trexler, had been busy traveling around the country to visit with old high school friends, children and grandchildren, and seeing the world. They went on cruises to the Black Sea, Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera, and traveled to Denmark, England and Scotland. Lou is survived by his son, Stewart Louis, a physical therapist, Stewart's wife Elizabeth and their children, Hilary Jean Johnson (11) and Riley Stewart Johnson (13) all of Redding, CA; his daughter, Jean Marie Johnson and her husband Doug Westphal and their children, Talia Walker Westphal (3) and Arianna Wesley Westphal (1) of Novato, CA; and his sister Ardis Zimmerman and her husband, David, of Santa Rosa, CA.

In lieu of gifts, the family is inviting donations to a fund for the renovation of Arroyo Avichi Park. The park will be rededicated in his name upon completion next year. Donations can be made to "Jean M. Johnson/Arroyo Avichi Renovation Fund" (reference account #389-226757-3 on the memo line) and sent to Washington Mutual Bank, 1595 Grant Ave., Novato, CA 94945. A public "Celebration of the Life of Lou Johnson" will be held in Arroyo Avichi Park on Saturday, July 21st at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome. Lou was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.