– Mara Pattison-Sowden
Keith Walter Johanson
Born: 27 July 1919
Died: 9 September 2011
KEITH Johanson was born at Wahroonga in New South Wales. The first son of Walter and Susan Johanson, he was a brother for Merele and Beryl, and later Phyllis and Bruce.
In 1906, Keith’s father Walter helped establish the Signs Publishing Company (SPC) in Warburton, where he and Susan married before moving back to Wahroonga.
Keith first visited Warburton in 1923, when his father was managing the SPC. The family returned to Warburton in 1926, and Keith settled happily into life in the valley, where school days passed comfortably enough.
But in 1934, his life changed forever after Warburton was hit by a big flood that inundated the Signs’ factory.
Just a few days later Walter died, leaving Keith as the man of the family.
His siblings have said he took seriously his father’s request to take care of the family for him.
Keith left school and he joined the staff at the Signs Publishing Company where he spent some of the happiest days of his working life.
He left Warburton in 1939 to spend a year at what is now Avondale College, affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Some of the brethren wanted him to take up the ministry, but he chose to pursue a career in business.
He was invited to join the staff of the Sanitarium Health Food Company, working first at the Sussex Street depot and later at the new depot and factory at Lewisham.
Keith spent some time in the Army until, in 1941, he completed an aircraft engineering course and moved to Melbourne to work for Ansett before transferring to another essential service, the timber industry.
He married Joan in 1943, and during the next few years Dale, Peter and Nerida arrived to make up the family.
Keith was recognised for his contribution to the church and the community at the 100th year anniversary of Adventists in Warburton in 2006.
His family was among the first group of Adventists to move to Warburton, and Keith served as a church elder for more than 50 years, as well as working in most departments of the church.
He contributed to the development of the church school and aged-care facilities as well. He also served as a member and president of the local shire.
Warburton was home to Keith for almost all of his life, and when he required aged care, he was very happy to be able to remain in Warburton.
He loved watching the Yarra River, which Walter first took him to see at the age of four.
During the two years Keith lived at Yarra View, the highlight of his week was attending Sabbath School and Church and enjoying the potluck lunch with his church family.
Writing of his life, Keith recently wrote: “The years of travel were full of interest. The association with so many people was extremely rewarding.
“But the outstanding event and the highlight of all, was meeting and marrying Joan and having three wonderful children—Dale, Peter and Nerida.
“The years of togetherness, with all the ordinary and special things we did, were the highlight of my lifetime.
“I thank God for this and look forward with keen anticipation to the happy re-union with Joan when Jesus comes, and the thrill of all being together again!
“I have the personal hope that when God recreates this world in that day, He will only renovate the Yarra Valley so we can all live together, enjoying forever the love and pleasure of each dear family member and the multiple number of wonderful friends and acquaintances of an interesting and varied life.”
