Marvin L. Johnson, 91 years of age, of Concordia, passed away Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia. He was born on December 22, 1921 in rural Cloud County to Perry and Anna (Forsling) Johnson. Marvin graduated from Concordia High School in 1940 and on January 6, 1942, enlisted in the United States Navy. He was stationed at Corpus Christi , Texas as a link trainer operator. Other assignments were at Lambert Field, St. Louis , Missouri , Pensacola , Florida , and was discharged at Jacksonville , Florida in November of 1947 upon his return from Guam .

On December 5, 1947, Marvin married Ila Holding at the Allapattah Baptist Church in Miami , Florida . He attended Frame Refrigeration Institute in Miami , and upon graduating returned to Concordia where he was employed by Fairmont Foods Company as a refrigeration serviceman. In 1957, they moved to Wichita and he was employed by Superior Supply Company, a wholesale refrigeration company. In 1962, Marvin was transferred to Salina and served as sales engineer, traveling North Central Kansas until his retirement in 1982. He taught refrigeration and air conditioning at night school at Wichita East High School and Salina Area Vo Tech.

In 1967, Marvin purchased his first sail boat and he enjoyed his sailing hobby for many years. He was a charter member of the Lake Milford Yacht Club. Upon moving to Florida in 1982, he purchased a larger boat and enjoyed year round sailing in Florida waters. He became a boat captain, licensed by the United States Coast Guard and operated a ferry boat for Palm Island Marina and Resort. He also formed Star Knot Charters, Inc. and enjoyed taking his charters on the waters of Southwest Florida . After his second retirement in 1989, he and Ila sailed on the Intra-coastal waterways of Florida and in the Keys. Marvin was known in the boating community for his expertise in tying fancy knots and taught many boaters the art of knot tying.

Marvin was a Past Patron of Harmony Chapter #2 Order of Eastern Star, Salina, a member of Albert Pike Masonic Lodge, Wichita, Consistory, a charter member of Sahib Shrine, Sarasota, Florida, member of Eastern Star, Englewood, Florida, American Legion Post #76, Concordia, and Concordia Lions Club, and a member of First Christian Church, Concordia.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Ila; two sons, Quentin of Brookville, Keenan and wife Cindy of Overland Park; three grandchildren, Kiel , Adrienne, Corey; two sisters, Vicki Roberts of Concordia, Treva Jorend of Tucson , Arizona ; and a brother, Gene Johnson of Concordia. He was preceded in death by his parents; two children, Holly Allison, Vance Eugene; sister, Alma Wright; and three brothers, Clayton, Floyd, and Leo.

Cremation has taken place and Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 pm, Sat., April 20, 2013 at the First Christian Church with Rev. Jeff Nielsen officiating. Friends may sign the register book from 9 am to 5 pm, Fri., April 19, at the funeral home. Private Inurnment with Masonic Services will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church, American Heart Association, and Meadowlark Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.chaputbuoy.com . Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia in charge of arrangements.