Edwin Joseph Johansson

Edwin Joseph Johansson, 91, of Bridge City, passed away on April 29, 2014 at his home.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday May 3, 2014, at First Baptist Church in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Lynn Ashcraft of First Baptist Church in Bridge City and Reverend Phil Sigman of Central Baptist Church in Port Arthur. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves, Texas.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday May 2, 2014 at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 29, 1922, Edwin (Ed) was the son of Anders Hjalmar Johansson and Edna Theresa (Duffy) Johansson. He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1942-1945. He received his Coast Guard boot-camp training in New Orleans. Later he went to Maryland for diving school and ship repair. During World War II, he was deployed to Sabine Pass Texas, Baltimore Maryland, and to Shell Beach Louisiana. Ranked as a Coxswain, he was honorably discharged in October 1945.

In 1943, Ed met his beloved wife of 60 years, Llewellyn (Lou) Groves and they married in 1945. Ed worked at Smith Motors as a Shop Foreman for 5 years. After work, Edwin volunteered teaching swimming at Port Arthur Junior High to hundreds of Port Arthur students. He was asked to teach Hughen School disabled students at this same swimming pool. Hughen School in Port Arthur was one of the first schools of its kind and was dedicated by Bob Hope.

Ed was hired on at Dupont from 1952-57 as an operator. Ed and Lou bought 5 acres in Bridge City where Edwin built the family homestead. Ed is a multitalented man who loved wood working, machine repair, plumbing, electrical, and horticulture. The couple raised three children, cattle, produce gardens and fruit trees. In 1957 until his retirement in 1984, Ed worked as an operator at Firestone Rubber and Tire in Orange, Texas. After retirement, he started a Christmas tree farm on his acreage--Johansson’s Christmas Tree Farm. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Bridge City. He enjoyed friend and family fellowships while camping, hunting, fishing, water sports, church activities, cook outs, playing dominoes and games. He will be remembered by his “heart of gold,” positive attitude, smile, “5 minute jobs,” and love for life. The family wishes to thank Ryan Johansson, Dr. Wesley Palmer’s office, Amber Juneau, Hospice and his caregivers for their tender care.


He was preceded in death by his wife, Llewellyn Virginia Johansson; son, Charles “Butch” Johansson; brothers, Albert and Anders Johansson; and sister, Esther Lucy Werner.

He is survived by his son Alan Johansson and wife Debbie of Bridge City; daughter Sue Gondran and husband Paul of Austin; daughter-in-law Leah Johansson of Bridge City; grandchildren Eric Johansson and wife Erin, Ryan Johansson, Brett Johansson, Brad Johansson and wife Amanda, Amber Juneau and husband Dathan, Neal Gondran, Amy Gondran; great- grandchildren Preston Krueger, Reagan Krueger, Aiden Garcia, Lauren Johansson, Ava Johansson, Madison Juneau, Kaitlyn Juneau, and Layla Johansson; sister Esther Covington of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Eric Johansson, Ryan Johansson, Brett Johansson, Brad Johansson, Amber Juneau, Neal Gondran, and Amy Gondran.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Bridge City.