Norbert Wilfred Johnson

Norbert Wilfred Johnson passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2017 at the age of 93. Graveside services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Doyline Cemetery, Doyline, La. where he will be interred in the Willis Family section. Officiating will be Andy Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents Glen William Johnson and Mary Lou Smith Johnson Attison. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Martha Lee Willis Johnson; his children, Virginia Ann Johnson, John Clinton Johnson (Cynthia), Mary Pamela Ayres (Steve) of Alexandria and Melanie Candace Johnson; Grandchildren, John Richardson Ayres, Loye Stillmon Ayres, Charles Thompson Ayres, Capt. Jeffrey Clinton Johnson (Beverly), John Christopher Johnson; Great-Grandson, Jackson Lee Johnson; and brother, Clarence B. Johnson (Pat) of Tucson, Az. Norbert was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on March 21, 1924, and attended Louisiana Avenue Grade School and Byrd High School, graduating from San Raphiel High School in San Raphiel, California. Following his graduation, he entered Louisiana Tech as an Engineering Major, Volunteered for WWII serving in the United States Army Air Force as Radio Mechanic Operator and Gunner on B-17s. Following WWII he attended the Pasadena Playhouse and then returned to Louisiana Tech where he was active in the Tech Theater Players. He entered the Insurance Business on August 1, 1949, as an adjustor for Motors Insurance Corporation attending General Motors Tech in Flint, Michigan. He worked for General Adjustment Bureau as a Casualty Adjuster for 5 years during which he attended their first Multi-Line Adjustment School and became one of the first Nationwide Special Storm Adjusters. For 5 years he worked as Special Agent for the Aetna Insurance Company and opened his own agency in 1958, holding memberships in the Construction Specifications Institute, Professional Agents Association of Louisiana, Certified Real Estate Appraiser and Certified Environmental Institute, memberships he held for the benefit of his insurance profession. In 1978, he founded Church Insurance Specialists, Inc., dedicated to serving the insurance needs of churches throughout the state of Louisiana. Norbert was a member of First Baptist Church of Shreveport which he joined at the age of 11. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, is a 32^nd Degree Mason and Shriner. His Civic Activities included the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Membership in the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Caddo Parish School Board, and as Vice Chairman of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission for 8 years, and the Salvation Army Board. He served as President of the Optimist Club of Shreveport and as Governor of the Louisiana District of Optimist International bringing to Louisiana the first "Distinguished Governor Award" and as Youth Chairman and President of the Volunteer Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge sending area high school seniors to Valley Forge. He received the Shreveport Fire Department Award for his work in fire education and prevention. He was a member of Galvez Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and served as President of the Louisiana State Society. Norbert's happiest moments were at Willis farms with his children where they rode their horses and together planted and maintained a rose garden of approximately 1000 roses which were used extensively for local churches, civic, private and patriotic affairs including their use at Barksdale AFB for many occasions. Today those roses have been replaced with Daffodils and the gift lives on in his children and grandchildren.