Kenneth "Ken" Jay Johansen

Matthew 25:23  His Lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant"

Kenneth Jay Johansen went to be with his Lord and Savior, his G-d, on July 1, 2023.  He was born in April, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, to Edie and Arne Johansen. As a toddler, his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he had a wonderful childhood with his parents and younger brother, Jamie.

Ken was sincere, honest, kind, and good through and through.  His Jewish background meant a lot to him his entire life.  His experiences in Scouting, which led to Eagle Scout, were incredibly important to him.  He truly was trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

While in high school and college, he played baseball and ran track and cross country.

He attended Oklahoma State University, working at Safeway to put himself through school.  From age two, he knew he wanted to be an engineer.  He earned a degree in mechanical engineering and later did postgraduate work.

At OSU, he met his beloved wife, Laurie Brower.  His very first words to her showed his deep kindness, words which will live with her forever.  They married in 1970 and moved to Texas in 1972, where he was fortunate to begin his engineering career designing a portion the space shuttle.  Later in his career, he worked in the environmental field.

His two greatest accomplishments were his two sons, Andrew and Benjamin.  What a great dad he was! He did everything with his boys: sports, Scouts, everything!  They were the joys of his life.

In 1989, rooted in his strong Jewish faith, Ken deepened his journey by becoming a Christian.  From that time, he became a faithful member of MacArthur Blvd Baptist Church, as a deacon, teacher, and worker.  He was also active in Bible Study Fellowship.

Ken loved to run (and run), hike, travel, swim, work out, bike, play games and be with family and such incredibly close friends of many years (bless you! – you know who you are).

His grandchildren, Emma, Carter, Shepherd, Beau, and William were the joys of his later years.  What fun they had with Papa!

His circle of close friends was important to him.  Everyone loved Ken, at church, the Grapevine Recreation Center, anywhere he went, everyone loved him.  He had a contagious kindness and beautiful smile and a way of making friends with everyone.

Parkinson’s may have impacted his life, but not his spirit.  Ken never gave up.

Survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Laurie, his sons, Andrew Jay and Benjamin David, their precious wives, Melissa and Heather, his grandchildren, Emma and Carter, Shepherd, Beau, and William, his brother, Jamie and his wife Linda, niece, Rachel, nephew, Michael, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Ken, brother-in-law, Steve, and beloved nieces and nephews.

Well done, good and faithful servant.  Your strength is renewed and you “shall run and not be weary.”

Private graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Little Cemetery North of Seminole.

The Memorial Service for Ken will be at 4:00 p.m., Friday, July 7, 2023 at MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church, 8001 Mustang Drive, Irving, Texas 75063.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to The Parkinson's Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation at https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=2647&np=true

Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.