Newark, Delaware – Peter Norman Johnson, 89, died on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at Christiana Hospital. Peter was born on May 23, 1929 in Dorchester, Massachusetts and attended schools in Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was involved in Demolay, the Masonic branch for young men where he met his first wife Ruth Wood at a Demolay and Rainbow Girl’s dance. Peter graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Northeastern’s co-op program provided Peter with his first training opportunity at Weymouth Water Works. His career continued in investor owned water utility businesses until his retirement.

Peter and Ruth were married in 1953 at the historic Old Ship Church in Hingham, Massachusetts. Peter’s career at Consumers Water Company included multiple assignments as an operational engineer in five states from Missouri to Maine. Peter and Ruth raised four children during these years with multiple relocations and adopted two foster children while in Maine. In 1979, Peter and Ruth moved to Bear, Delaware as Peter accepted a new position at Artesian Water Company. He retired from Artesian in 1996 as Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.

Peter has been a long time active member of the Lutheran Church. After Ruth died in 1989, he married Olga Reinfeld a fellow member of Hope Lutheran Church and moved to Newark, Delaware.

Peter enjoyed the outdoors, including downhill skiing and cross country skiing into his 80’s. He loved his many dogs and greatly enjoyed going for morning and evening walks. He was an avid and talented woodworker, house painter, tiler and built many projects including many home improvement projects including a custom sauna. He will always be remembered for his patience and his brilliant approach to life and the people he loved around him.

Peter is predeceased by his parents Elmer Gunnar Johnson and Maggie Swinton Brown Cochran Johnson; along with his first wife Ruth Dorothy Wood Johnson. He is survived by his wife Olga Johnson and his children, daughter Barbara Perry with husband Timothy and children Casey, Melissa Crummett and Christopher; his son Peter Johnson with wife Andi and daughters Elizabeth and Charlotte; his daughter Kristin Conant with husband Kendall and sons Kendall and Allen; his son Allen Johnson with wife Alicia and son Peter and daughter Sydney. He is also survived by stepson Andre Davis with wife Katie and children Marissa and Jake; stepson Uwe Davis; and great grandchildren Riley Perry, Lorelei Crummett, Calvin Conant, Benjamin Conant and Serenity Johnson.

A celebration of life will take place at Hope Lutheran Church, 230 Christiana Rd, New Castle, Delaware on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 11 AM where friends and family may visit starting at 10 am. The celebration of life will be followed by a reception. Burial will be on a future date at Gracelawn Memorial Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Memorial donations may be given in memory of Peter to Lutheran Community Services, 1304 N Rodney St # A, Wilmington, DE 19806.