Obituaries
Frank Pierr Johnson, MD
January 30, 1926 - September 23, 2023


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VISITATION
October 21, 2023 | 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. -
Yurs Funeral Home
405 E. Main Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 - Funeral
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Burial Location
Private
Frank Pierr Johnson “Pierr”, age 97, passed away at home in the early morning of September 23rd surrounded by his second wife of 37 years, Joyce Cregier, and special caregiver Etimala (Eti) Banda.
Pierr was born on January 30th, 1926, in Moline, Illinois, to Frank Arvid and Evalyn Pierr Johnson. His brother Frank Arvid was born 2 years later. The family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota then to Weston, Connecticut during the depression and war years. Pierr joined the US Navy early in 1945, serving at Great Lakes Naval Hospital. It was when he was at Great Lakes that he realized his calling for a career in medicine. He completed his studies after the war and completed his medical training in Chicago. He met his first wife Jeanne Clancy in 1953, while in a medical internship in Indianapolis. After his internship he was a family practitioner in Rochester, Indiana. Son Pierr, daughters Ann and Becky (all of whom he delivered!), and twin sons Karl and Kenneth were born in Indiana, prior to the family moving to Rochester, Minnesota in 1960. During a residency in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in the early 1960s, a third daughter, Barbara, was born. The family moved to Geneva in 1964, then settled in St. Charles in 1967. In addition to his 45+ years practicing psychiatry in the Fox Valley, he was on staff at Mercyville in North Aurora, St. Charles Youth Center, Sheridan Correction Center, and Loyola University where he held a forensic psychiatry clinic until he suffered a stroke in 2009.
Pierr and his first wife parted ways later in their marriage yet remained friends until her passing in 2002.
Pierr was a creative and expressive soul with an engaging personality who enjoyed connecting with others across multiple mediums. He was a published poet, a painter, and a photographer of barns. He was an avid reader of history and enjoyed all forms of classical music and jazz. He was disciplined and physically active throughout his life, enjoying running, and playing handball at the Aurora YMCA, taking bicycle trips with family, and working outside. He was a life-long fan of Illinois football, the Chicago Bears, and the city of Chicago. He visited Sweden several times and was especially proud of his Swedish “Viking” heritage. Lastly, he loved spending time “on the lake,” Lake Michigan, his “inland sea.”
His parents, brother, first wife Jeanne, and grandson Luke, all preceded him in death. Survivors include his six children: Pierr Johnson Jr., MD of Santa Fe, NM, Ann Johnson of Geneva, IL, Becky (Terry) Bolda of Moore, SC, Barbara (Rhett) Weese of Deer River, MN, Karl (Cathy) Johnson of Altona, IL, and Kenneth (Marcia) Johnson of Elgin, IL; his 8 grandchildren; his wife Joyce, her four children (Rod, Tienne, Jodie and Missy), her 12 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to the whole community of care givers since the onset of his stroke, including especially Maria Sibiga, and Etimala Banda. We couldn’t have done it without you.
A Celebration of Pierr’s Life will be held 1:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Yurs Funeral Home 405 E. Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Charles History Museum in his memory. www.stcmuseum.org/donate
Condolences
Randy from Jensen , IL
"My condolences to the loved ones of “the Viking“. He will be missed by this Dane."
Joan Hahn Carlson from Canton , MI
"Pierr was a special Dr and person. Especially was a perfect husband for Joyce. My brother was a patient and thought very highly of him. I have had many conversations with him and and they were always stimulating. Pierr, you will always be missed. Joan"