Dennis “Denny” Johnson died in the early hours of Jan. 4, 2018, at his Buckley home.

He was born July 10, 1937, in Tacoma to Henry and Margaret Johnson. He grew up in Tacoma, spent summers visiting his grandparents’ farm in Eatonville and later attended and played football at Western Washington University. He earned a degree in education and began his teaching and coaching career in 1961 at Kent-Meridian High School, where he worked for 30 years. He taught history and coached football and wrestling during the 1960s and ’70s and retired in 1991 as the school’s activities coordinator.

Following retirement at age 53, he and wife Reita moved to Ander-son Island, where they lived until moving to Buckley in 2007. During retirement years, he spent his time fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, working on wooden boats and traveling the U.S. with his wife in their pickup and camp trailer.

He is survived by son Chris Johnson (Anna) of Enumclaw; daughter Cynthia Roberts (Steve) of Seattle; brother Tom Johnson (Sally) of Tacoma; eight grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Reita; his wife of five years Rosemary Eyemann; sister Nancy Thompson; and daughter Kathryn McConnell.

Funeral services will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Buckley at a date and time to be determined.