A service celebrating the life of Bernard "Bernie" Andrew Johansen, 86, of Clarkesville, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Francis Womack officiating.
Mr. Johansen passed away July 1, 2021, at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
Born Jan. 3, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Johansen was the son of the late Joachim Herland Johansen and Helen Olson Johansen Ross.
Mr. Johansen was a U.S. Army Veteran having served during the Korean War. He was an Electronics Engineer with the Harris Corporation in Florida and later owned and operated an electronic assembly business in Haiti for many years, as well as in the Cornelia area. He later became a Corrections Officer at Lee Arrendale State Prison (LASP) and after retirement he became an electronics instructor at LASP in the vocational area. Mr. Johansen had a passion for aviation which fueled his interest in radio-controlled airplanes and obtaining his private pilot’s license. Mr. Johansen was a member of Nacoochee Presbyterian Church and the Sautee RC Flyers Club.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Pence Johansen of Clarkesville; sons and daughters-in-law, Eric and Christina Johansen of Lakeland, Florida, and Brant and Lori Benoit of Demorest; daughter, Lesa Rathjen of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Joan Strouse of Dorothy, New Jersey; grandchildren, Austin Mills, Nicholas Rathjen, Katrina Rathjen, Eric Johansen Jr. (Katie), and Phillip Johansen (Tiffany); four great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service from 5 until 6 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the Johansen family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.