John Kenneth Johnson

John Kenneth Johnson February 20, 1947 - September 11, 2026 John Kenneth Johnson (“Ken”)—beloved husband and father, and lover of classical music and cryptic crossword puzzles—died on September 11, 2026. Ken will be forever missed by his wife Lois, daughter Megan (Dave), son Alan (Taleena) and step grandchildren (Mila Rae and Reese). Ken’s kindness and loving nature extended well beyond his immediate family, and his passing will be mourned by his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, as well as friends and past colleagues. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ken completed medical school at the University of Manitoba. He then moved to Toronto where he worked for a number of years as a physician, including for a period of time at Casey House Hospice. In 1997 he moved with his family to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In Halifax, he spent much of his career as a physician in the Division of Palliative Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. Ken was deeply devoted to his work as a physician, and believed strongly in the importance of compassionate palliative care. Ken was a quiet man who never demanded the spotlight. He saw the best in everyone, and people were drawn to his gentle, kind demeanor. He was a loving, and incredibly supportive and caring partner to Lois. Ken was also an extremely proud father who thought the world of Megan and Alan. Time with his kids was important to him and he was at his happiest when at home with his loved ones. Ken loved watching baseball games. He also loved playing piano, and could often be found sitting on his piano bench effortlessly playing classical music including “finger-breaking” works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Brahms. He was a natural cook and enjoyed making evening meals for family and friends (as long as someone else organized the menu!). Ken could parallel park in the tightest of spots, and prided himself on always finding free parking. He had an impressive vocabulary that few could match and which was always on display—whether he was completing a crossword puzzle in record time or winning nearly every game of Scrabble! Ken (1947-2026) is predeceased by his father, Charles Whitefield Johnson (1908-1988), mother Esther Irene Johnson (née Caldwell) (1913-2002), and brothers Frank Caldwell Johnson (1940-1987) and Bruce Charles Johnson (1951-2012). Ken was proud of his Icelandic heritage (on his father’s side), and one of the last international trips he took with his family was to Iceland. Humour came naturally to Ken. In fact, his family is convinced that if he had written this obituary himself it would have been much funnier! Without a second thought he would have included some witty remarks that would make us all laugh out loud. Some of his best moments were when he made others laugh—even during difficult times when laughter did not seem possible. We (Lois, Megan, and Alan) would like to thank our family and friends in Halifax (Nova Scotia) and other parts of Canada, as well as family and friends living in the United States, who supported us during Ken’s lengthy illness. We are also deeply grateful to the many healthcare providers who offered compassionate care to Ken through the last few years of his life. In particular, we would like to thank Dr. Barry Clarke, Dr. Anne Marie Krueger-Naug, and Dr. Alison Dixon, as well as the many nurses who provided Ken with exceptional care. We would also like to extend a very heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Northwood Care, 1 Centre (Halifax) who ensured Ken’s comfort—fondly referring to him as “Dr. Ken”. As a family, we will never forget your kindness and compassion. A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an organization involved in Alzheimer`s research, education, or caregiving support, such as Hilarity for Charity Canada. It is not possible for us to put into words how much we will miss Ken. He will be in our hearts forever, and beautiful memories of Ken will be with us always—and will make us smile.