Kurt I. Johnson

          Kurt Ignatius Johnson was born on May 24, 1956, in Prince George’s County, Maryland to the late James and Lelia Johnson. Kurt attended High Bridge Elementary School and graduated from Bowie High School in 1975. He began working for the Prince George’s County School System at age 18 and retired after 43 years of dedicated service. 

          Kurt was a beloved and lifelong member of Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, Maryland.  He served as an Usher from the time he was a teenager.  He often served more than one mass.  He enjoyed greeting parishioners with a smile as they entered the church.

          Kurt was a proud member of the Knights of Saint John International (a fraternal Catholic organization), Commandery #283 of Bowie, Maryland.  He attended monthly meetings and helped with activities sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary.

          Kurt officially joined the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department, Company 19 in 1985.  He proudly rode in the fire truck in the Annual Bowie Memorial Day Parade. He also faithfully participated in the Annual Santa Ride through the neighborhoods of Bowie.  He made it a point to be on duty at least 4 days a week and did anything that was needed inside of the Fire House.  On March 19, 2022, Kurt was awarded a plaque for 37 years of Outstanding Service to the citizens of Bowie and Prince George’s County, Maryland.

          Kurt said very little, but when he did, it was very meaningful.  He was very patriotic.  He faithfully listened to the National Anthem at 12 noon every day. This was a tradition that started when he was a little boy.  Because he was a creature of habit, his meals were the same each and every day – at 11:30 a.m. for lunch he had fried potatoes, turkey sausage and water.  He had to have Tabasco hot sauce with each meal.

          Kurt was preceded in death by his brother Ronald David Johnson in 2014.  He leaves to cherish his memory two sisters, Ann Laverne Johnson and Pamela Welch (Brian); one brother, Vaughn Johnson (Sandra); sister-in-law, Macie Johnson; three nieces, Tasman Allen (Horace), Rebecca Welch (Ammar), and Tashana Frink; one nephew, Jesse Welch; two great nephews, Yaseen Rageh and Kai Frink; and Special Friend, Lisa Massey.  He is also survived by two aunts, Florence Brown and Barbara Ann Johnson; one uncle, Herbert Johnson (Mary); and a host of other relatives and friends.