Lee Kristian Johnson

Lee Kristian Johnson, 79, of Traverse City, a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, fire chief, mechanic, and maker of excellent ice cream sodas, died on October 25, 2026. He was born on August 8, 1947, and was raised by his parents, Eleanor and Henry Johnson, and later by his stepmother, Doris Johnson Richards. Lee is survived by Kathye, his high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years; their daughters, Julie Kelly and Jennifer Underwood; his brother, Mark Johnson; ten grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Lee’s faith in Jesus showed in what he did with his hands and his time. After four years in the U.S. Navy, he became an EMT and later rose to Captain and then Fire Chief of the Elmwood Township Fire Department. For 35 years he ran Mechanical Specialty, his British car repair shop. If a classic car or boat in Traverse City wouldn’t run, there was a good chance it ended up in front of Lee, whether it was his or not. He was a longtime member of the Twin Bay British Cars Club. At Abba’s House, he taught young men how to keep engines and appliances running.

In his later years, he spent his time with the men of the Grand Traverse Men’s Shed. Lake Leelanau was where he wanted his family: camping, boating, fishing, and then stopping at the corner store so no one went home without ice cream. He taught his grandchildren to fish, bending back the barbs on the hooks so the fish could be released unharmed, and to build a campfire without gasoline. At the Kingsley Sportsman Club, he sharpened his own marksmanship and taught others to handle guns safely and responsibly.

His old-fashioned ice cream sodas were the best in the world, and his family intends to keep that tradition alive.