U.S. Air Force veteran and former Islamorada Mayor Robert “Bob” Johnson passed away at the age of 82 on Dec. 15.
Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943, he recently lived in Palmetto, Florida before his passing. He spent four decades in Islamorada; 20 of those years were as owner of Papa Joe’s Marina. He also served on the village council from 2002 to 2006.
He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and remained active with the American Legion Post 145 in Islamorada. Johnson never missed an opportunity to serve his fellow veterans with dedication and friendly banter he brought to every aspect of his life.
“Bob loved his family and his dogs, living on his own terms. He took great pride in his yard, transforming it from a simple patch of grass into a pristine lawn, with his loyal dogs at his side and often while enjoying good conversations with neighbors,” reads his obituary.
Johnson is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susan, his daughter, Tracy Johnson-Craske, nieces and nephews.
The Keys Weekly had the opportunity to interview Johnson ahead of Veterans Day in 2021.
What rank did you achieve? For veterans, rank should be irrelevant. Even the lowest level service member has been in harm’s way.
What unit were you attached to? Strategic Air Command, 1960 to 1964. Selfridge Air Force Base, in Michigan.
What inspired you to join the military? I joined for a sense of purpose.
What was the best part of your service? The military owes me absolutely nothing, and I owe them everything for a much better life.
How did serving change you? From my perspective, it gave me a head start in the business world and a public-service work ethic.
What do you tell young people who want to serve? There’s nothing better for a young man to do than be in the military. It gives a sense of purpose, strong values, self-discipline, patriotism and work ethics.
Biggest surprise after becoming active duty? The Cuban Missile Crisis and how close we were to a thermonuclear war. I remember the days of the blockade. The entire air force base was silent. Our motto was, “Peace is our profession.” If not for our military readiness, we’d be living in a different world today. Living in that era affected my view of the importance of democracy and the importance of public service. We spent five days on the highest alert level. The slowest five days of my life.Favorite military movie? “Hunt for Red October.” “A Few Good Men.” “Patton.”
