Roger J. Johnson

Age 62 of Wilmington and formerly of Joliet, passed away Sunday morning, February 26, 2023, at his residence.

Born August 11, 1960, in Joliet, Illinois, Roger was a son of the late Joseph Johnson and Carole (Hoffstadt) Cerone. He was raised in Joliet, and was a graduate of Joliet West High School.  On February 12, 1981 he met the love of his life, Susan Lynn Herman after leaving a car show. He married Susan on September 21, 1985, they have been together for 43 years. Roger worked as a group leader at Peddinghaus prior to gaining employment with Exxon Mobil, from where he retired with 31 years as a machinery specialist.

Roger was a well-known as an all-around perfectionist and master-craftsman. Thanks to his detailed oriented personality, his talents as a painter were unmatched. He was an artist of colors with his “out of this world” paint jobs that he used to gift people with the cars of their dreams. Roger was awarded numerous awards for his craft such as “Best Paint Job” and “Best in Show”. He was also responsible for the construction of an iconic home here in Wilmington. Roger spearheaded and completed the project, from designing the plans to even nailing the final shingle himself. He was the definition of what a true family man should be.

Survivors include his wife Susan (Herman) Johnson of Wilmington; three children Amanda (Stephen) Gerdez of Bourbonnais, Illinois, Brooke (Andy) Crutchfield of Wilmington, and Justin (Laci) Johnson of Wilmington; four grandchildren: Logan Gerdez, Kai, and Xavier Crutchfield, and Ryder Johnson; his mother, Carole Cerone of Bonney Lake, WA; two sisters: Diane Cooper of Bonney Lake, WA and Cathy Arnold of Naperville, IL; and one brother, Brian Cole of Joliet, IL.

Roger was preceded death by his father Joseph Johnson, and  stepmother, Barbara Johnson; his sister Lorrie Johnson, and step-brother Alex Cole.

The family will receive friends for a memorial visitation on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, in Wilmington from 12:00 p.m. until the time of memorial service at 4:00 p.m. Roger will be laid to rest at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Morris at a later date.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Roger’s memory to St. Paul Lutheran School, 1780 Career Center Road, Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book and find full obituary as it becomes available on Roger's memorial page at www.BaskervilleFuneral.com