Rudolph Johnson

BERGLAND, Mich. - Rudolph "Rudy" Johnson, 84, passed away May 27, 2022, at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. Rudy was born and raised in the Bergland area, and graduated from Bergland High School in 1956. He joined the U.S. Army in 1958, and trained at Fort Hood, Texas. From there, he went overseas and served in Gelnhausen, Germany, where he met his idol, Elvis Presley, who was also serving there. Rudy was honorably discharged in 1960.

He went to work for White Pine Copper Company in White Pine, where he worked for 43 years as a partsman and tire repair man.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bonita; his daughter, Tracy (Steve) Applekamp, of Iron Mountain; his son, Troy (Angela) Johnson, of Kingsford; two grandchildren, Cody (Corrin) Applekamp, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Jordan (Ryan) Smiltneek of Sagola; four great-grandchildren, Reese and Warren Applekamp, of Green Bay, and Rylee and Ryan Parker Smiltneek, of Sagola. Rudy is also survived by a sister, Marlene (Ron) Zaleski, of Bessemer; and a brother, John, of Bergland.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Rudy's wishes were to be cremated and his ashes spread on his parents' homestead in Merriweather, Michigan.