Founder of two Omaha non-profits dies S. Marvin Johnson, DMin, died March 28, 2014, after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was eighty-two years old. In 1977 he and his wife Joy, founded the Centering Corporation, North America’s oldest and largest bereavement resource center. Centering was the national emergency grief resource center following the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine shootings, and the attack on the World Trade Center. Locally, Centering Corporation was the grief resource supplier following the Von Maur shooting. In the last ten years the corporation has supplied over two million books, videos, and other tools to caregivers and grievers world-wide. In 2001 the Johnsons, along with their daughter Janet Roberts and former son-in-law Benn Sieff, founded Ted E. Bear Hollow, Omaha’s center for grieving children. The Hollow presently serves nearly one thousand family members annually and is one of the leading children's grief centers in the United States. The Johnsons were also internationally-known bereavement specialists and conducted workshops and seminars in every state, every province in Canada and in New Zealand. They were awarded the National Compassionate Friends Community Service Award and Omaha Family Service’s Community Service Family of the Year Award. In 2001 Dr. Johnson received Boston University’s School of Theology Alumni of the Year award. “Marv” Johnson grew up in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, as part of Johnson Truck Lines. He learned a lot being a trucker and then when his father’s plane crashed when I was seventeen, taking over the business with my two brothers.” Dr. Johnson left the business at age 25 and became an ordained minister of The Christian Church (Disciples). Later he was Clinical Pastoral Supervisor at Clarinda Mental Health Institute in Clarinda, Iowa, prior to coming to Omaha. He is survived by his wife and co-founder, Joy Johnson, author of many grief books and The BOOB Girls: The Burned Out Old Broads at Table 12, three daughters and their families, three step-children and their families, which total nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Reception and Party will be held at 2 p.m. on April 2, 2014, at Happy Hollow Country Club. Instead of flowers, the family requests friends contribute to and become part of the new Dr. Marvin and Joy Johnson Foundation at Centering Corporation, The new foundation will provide resources to schools which have experienced and suicides and other tragedies as well as creating a memory garden and Caring Cups Coffee Stop at Centering Corporation. The latter will provide Research, Resources, Refreshment and Renewal through continuing education to professionals working with grieving persons and the bereaved themselves. Braman Mortuary – (72 St. Chapel) 1702 N. 72 St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-2171 Celebration of Marv’s Life & Party: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Happy Hollow Country Club (1701 S. 105 St.)
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