Brian and Cecile Johnson's Memorial Funeral

Brian and Cile: Nashville, TN

1952 - 2010


Memorial Funeral Service

Trinity Episcopal Church

Logansport, Indiana

June 26, 2010


Family and Friends of Brian and Cecile Johnson gathered in Logansport, Indiana to celebrate the life and joy each of them brought to so many of us. This gathering of Love amd Remembrance was planned and organized by Brian's sister, Anne Elizabeth (Johnson) O'Leary. All of us who loved them so much appreciate all the hard work and effort Anne put into what became a "Celebration of Love". We came not only from Indiana but also from Tennessee (where Brian and Cile had been living), Missouri, New York, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, and probably some other place I have forgotten.


Arrival in Logansport

We stayed at various hotels in this small Indiana town as we were competing with a State Girl's Softball Tournament for hotel space. Yet, we found time to gather together and remember times past as well as sharing dinner at a local restaurant.


Arrival

David, Michael, and Tom


Arrival

Mother, Joanne, David, and Anne


Arrival

Mother, Sue, Douglas, Uncle Dave, George, Joanne, David Gregory, and Annie


Arrival

That is my sister in front of everyone else.


Arrival

David and the Gerni's


Arrival

Douglas, Joanne, and David Gregory


Arrival

We are not quite sure who this guy might be?


Arrival

Sue, Douglas, Uncle Dave, and Mother


Arrival

Ward and Sue


Arrival

Meredith and Mark


Arrival

Bruce and Michael


The Funeral Eucharist for Brian and Cecile was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Logasport. Brian's father had been the Rector of this parish from 1969 until his death in 1977. It was also the sane church where Brian and Cile were married in 1992.


Trinity

Trinity


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Tom Gerni who was one of Brian's closest friends when they were in high school assisted along with his brothers in providing some of the music during the Eucharist.


There was a Reception held in the Parish Hall hosted by the women of the parish after the service.


Church Reception

Mark, Ward, Maureen, and Many Others


Church Reception

Bruce, Roger, Anne, and (I think Meg in front of me)


Church Reception

George and ?


Church Reception

Sue, Doug, Maureen, Matilda, and Ward


Church Reception

George and Mother


Church Reception

Terry, Adam, and Jennifer


Church Reception

David, Tom, and Tom's Wife


Church Reception

Marynell and Children, Ward, Douglas, and Sue
Maureen in the Background (All of that is a Guesstimation


Church Reception

Michael, Joanne, and Uncle Dave


Church Reception

Douglas in the Background


Church Reception

Douglas Talking to Someone (Maybe James Bean?)


Church Reception

Jennifer and Marynell


Church Reception

Adam and George in the Foreground, Anne and Ward (Behind Them),
Douglas and Michael in the Background


Church Reception

Marynell, Jennifer, Adam and George


Riverside Park: Logansport, Indiana

It had been Bian and Cecile's expressed wish to have their cremated ashes placed in the Wabash River that runs through Logansport.


The Interment of Brian and Cecile

Officiant: The Reverend Father Douglas Peter Johnson


The Interment

People arriving at Riverside Park for the Interment


The Interment

Douglas prepares for the final part of the burial service.


The Interment

The Wabash River


The Interment

A Private Moment for Two Sisters:
Suzanne, Cecile's Sister
Anne, Brian's Sister


Opening Sentence and Prayers

The Interment

The Interment

The Interment


The Dispersal of Brian and Cecile's Ashes in the Wabash
by Anne and Suzanne

The Interment

The Interment

The Interment


People Departing after the Dispersal the Ashes

The Interment

The Interment


Anne wanted this Memorial Service to be a happy and joyoud event, so she planned a picnic in Riverside Park
after the dispersal of ashes. Anne made arrangements for a pavilion, Tom Gerni and Friends provided music,
the Woman of Trinity hosted and served the food.


Picnic

Roger, Bruce, and Michael

Roger and Michael are two of Bruce's closest friends dating back to Fort Wayne Days.
Bruce met Roger through Boyscouts, Troop 45 at Trinity Episcopal Church - Fort Wayne in 1961.
Bruce met Michael at South Side High School in the Fall of 1964 when they were both Sophomores.

Roger now lives in New York City.
Michael now lives in Chicago.


Picnic

Janie and Joanne about to share a hug.


Picnic

It was also Joanne's Birthday which added a more pleasant dimension to the day
She is my mother's younger sister and my Godmother.


Picnic

Cheryl and George Reingruber who became good friends from Brian and Cile when
they lived in Reston, Va. Cheryl was Brian's first secretary.
Then, of course, there is Michael and Roger.


Picnic

Bruce, Douglas, and Susan


Picnic

Davis Side of the Family: Jennifer, Adam, Marynell, Terry and Townshend Children.


Picnic

Johnson Side of the Family: Scott and Leeann, Meg (now Margaret),
Meridith and Mark (Meridith is now Rice which becomes Johnson in June 2011).


Picnic

Logansport Friends


Picnic

David Obenchain and Tom Gerni both Logansport friends of Brian.


Picnic


Picnic


Picnic

George and Mother


Picnic

Ward, Cynthia, Dave, Joanne, Nancy, Anne, David, and Janie.


Picnic


Picnic


Picnic

Anne put together this Photo Board.


Picnic


Picnic


Picnic


Picnic


Indulge your inner child with a ride on the Dentzel Carousel in Logansport.
The beautifully restored 1885 National Historic Landmark originally stood in Fort Wayne, but was relocated
to Logansport's Spencer Park in 1919. The carousel - carved by Philadelphia artisan Gustav Dentzel, and now
one of only three complete stationary Dentzel carousels in the country - operates in Riverside Park.
For only 50 cents, you can reach for the golden ring from your choice of 43 hand-carved animals and chariots.
The carousel is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, then on weekends through October. Private group
reservations are available year-round.


While others were enjoying the Picnic, the Kids loved the Carousel.

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This was a very nostalgic part of the Picnic - Brian when he was healthy was quite the "Piano Man". Brian enjoyed his music and he was a joy to hear. Logansport friends who had often played with Brian came back to remember him.

Picnic


Picnic


The Train was also popular with the kids.

Picnic


Picnic


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Picnic

Janie and Meg


Picnic

Uncle Dave and Aunt Joanne


Picnic

David Gregory, Bruce, george, and Michael


Picnic

George, Adam, and Marynell


Picnic

Marynell and Terry


Picnic

The Picnic as well as the Music ended with "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".
That song was so appropriate in both a figurative and a lieral sense.


One of the struggles that I continue to struggle with is the fact I know "My Circle Is Broken" and the regret which has become a part of my consciousness is that I know there is nothing that I can do to change it or fix it. As much as he would let me, I tried to be a 'fixer' for my younger brother because I thought that was my responsibility. If there was anyone who was possessed by or fell victim to a 'wanderlust', it was my brother Brian. It took Brian ten years after he graduated from high school to finally decide that it might be a wise alternative to go back to school and earn a college degree if for no other reason than to increase the possibilities that life might have to offer him. Brian was a tree planter having to move often and live in the elements. I lent Brian a tent I owned and various camping equipment including an oven and lantern and various utilitarian items that allowed him the appearance of a near normal life. I had married a woman in Virginia who had no desire or inclination to camp. She took the attitude that staying at a 'Hotel 8' was the closest thing to camping that she ever wanted to experience. However, when I say I lent whatever to Brian that became a nebulous thought since the idea of reciprocity was never a part of our relationship. He also worked in music therapy at a State Hospital for the mentally challenged in Virginia. Brian made his way back to Indiana and came to Muncie when I was still at Ball State where he received training as piano tuner. He was a 'caretaker' for a period of time at a large estate outside of Lafayette, Indiana. Brian then finally decided to go back to school and was accepted at Purdue University in Lafayette where he earned an undergraduate degree in computer technology. This brought Brian to Northern Virginia where he found employment with one of the many computer firms located here. Those were the good years that led Brian to marrying Cile after reconnecting with her at a class reunion in Logansport. This was even after Brian had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The hideous reality of a chronic disease like MS is that it is degenerative with no cure. If you are fortunate, the disease will go into remission allowing a person to live relatively normal life (whatever that might be). Brian eventually had to retire on disability but he would also fall victim to the Health Care Crisis in this country where he couldn't receive adequate health care insurance because of a pre-existing condition. This is where I am going to end my story.

In the immediate days after Brian's death I attempted to deal with my grief by writing. Many of you have read these before but I am going to include them here in my fare well to Brian.

Bruce's Poetry and Short Stories


This page is the work of Senex Magister

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