Lyle Gordon Johnson

Lyle Gordon Johnson passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in West Branch, MI at the age of 93. He was born in Lansing, MI on July 21,1932 to the late F. Oscar and Ethel M. (Stephens) Johnson. His father died when Lyle was an infant. He and his brothers spent their summers, along with their cousins, on their grandparents’ farm south of West Branch.

Lyle served in the United States Army, 11th Airborne from October 1952-1954 making 20 jumps, and serving as a parachute packer and repairman, attaining the rank of Corporal.

Following his time in the service, he worked for 16 years as a barber in Lansing. He went on to work for the Michigan State Department of Licensing and Regulation from which he retired as an investigator, having also served as Administrator to the Michigan Board of Barber Examiners.

Lyle married Jacqueline “Jackie” DeRosia, née Waidelich on May 31, 1986. They lived in Eaton Rapids, MI, later moving to Lyle’s family property south of West Branch where he spent many summers with his family.

Lyle was an avid hunter and fisherman, and always looked forward to being on the water, on the ice, or in the woods. He loved to cook for family and friends, especially meals of the game he harvested or fish he caught.

Lyle previously served as an Elder for Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eaton Rapids, MI and Saint John’s Lutheran Church, West Branch, MI where he and Jackie are congregants.

Lyle is survived by his daughter, Beth (Dave) Ziegler of Dexter, MI; step-children Dean (Sally) DeRosia of Phoenix, AZ, Dale (Hao) DeRosia of Glendale, AZ, and Sharon DeRosia Brady of West Branch, MI, along with eight (8) grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and nephew Rich (Jennifer) Johnson who was like another son to Lyle.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jacqueline Johnson; his parents F. Oscar and Ethel, brothers Frank Johnson, Charles Johnson and wife Barb, and Lowell Johnson and wife, Viola; son, Mark Johnson; son-in-law, Kevin Brady; in-laws, Reverend Carl Waidelich, Barbara Soll, Marena and husband Don Mikol, along with beloved cousins, aunts, and uncles.

The Family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the wonderful, dedicated staff of The Brook - West Branch and Compassus Hospice of West Branch for their kind and devoted care for our parents.

The funeral service, with military honors, will be held at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Carl Petzold will officiate. Burial will be at Pine River Cemetery in Standish, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Compassus Hospice of West Branch, or St. John Lutheran Church, West Branch.

Online condolences can be made at www.steuernolmclaren.com