Jack Austin Johnson

Jack Austin Johnson, age 77, of Bluffton, SC passed away on Monday afternoon, May 26 at his residence. He was born August 18, 1947 in Ottawa, Illinois, a son of the late Jack and Shirley (Gaddis) Johnson.

Jack was a member of Red Dam Baptist Church where he taught the adult men’s Sunday school class. He held various positions within the church. He deeply loved his church family.

Jack graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and a major in political science. Immediately after college graduation he taught fourth grade in Gary, Indiana.

Jack became a Boy Scout professional in 1971, serving as the district executive at St. Charles, Illinois from 1971 until 1977. He was a field director at Davenport, Iowa from 1977 until 1982 when he was named as Scout Executive at Morris, Illinois. He held that position until July, 1986 when he was appointed as Scout Executive in the Buckeye Council B.S.A, Canton, Ohio until his retirement in 2006, during his tenure with the Buckeye Council, scouting grew by 42 percent; he established a $1.5 million endowment; completed a $4,5 million Seven Ranges Boy Scout reservation locate near Kensington, Ohio; built and funded a Scout Service Center costing nearly $1 million; increased annual donations by more than $500,000; established an annual golf outing which drew many PGA golf professionals; he sponsored an evening with Tony Bennett.

In the past, Jack was active in the Jaycees, Little League, and as a football coach.

Jack is survived by his wife, Sue, and sons, Eric (Alison), Kirk and stepson Matthew Maier (Monica). He leaves behind his much-loved grandchildren, Alex, and Levi Johnson, Alissa and McKenzie Maier and Abby (Daniel) Jordan and Noah Chadwick. He also leaves his sister, Pat (Don) Howell of Kingwood, Texas and his brother Craig, of King George, Virginia.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 31 at Red Dam Baptist Church with visitation at 2:00 pm and services at 3:00 pm.