Johns, Joe (1944-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Sep 22 p. 8

Birth date: 1944 Apr 26

text of obituary:

JOE JOHNS

Joe Johns, 59, of Sheridan, Mich., died Sept. 5, 2003, from leukemia. He was born in Goshen, Ind., on April 26, 1944.

As a young man, he served as an orderly in Portland, Ore., for his 1-W alternative service, which gave him a love for health care. After 1-W, he received training and worked as an x-ray technician in various hospitals in west-central Michigan for 35 years.

In 1992, he became president of the national registry of x-ray technicians known as the American Registry of Clinical Radiography Technologists, which later merged, under his leadership, with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

He had a quick wit and enjoyed the opportunities of e-mail to keep in touch with people. He frequently thought about what it means to follow Jesus today: He wanted to do the right thing. Many of his e-mails in recent years had to do with how to understand from a biblical and theological point of view the issues facing him and other believers in today's world. He was a tireless supporter of the Mennonite and community congregations he attended in central Michigan.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Sherwood Johns, of Sheridan; his parents, Galen and Edith Hoover Johns, of New Paris, Ind.; a son, Jason Johns, of Sheridan; a daughter, Jenica Johns Arntz and her husband, Brian, of Sheridan; three brothers, Steve, Loren and Lin of Goshen, Ind.; and a sister, Lois Johns Kaufmann of New Paris, Ind.

A memorial service was held at Greenville Community Church in Greenville, Mich.