Patrick O Johnston

Patrick Owen Johnston(“Sarge”), born on December 26, 1942 (79), of Lake Village, Indiana, passed away on June 24, 2022, at the University of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago, IL, succumbing to a serious brain injury that occurred at his home the evening before. Pat was a 1961 graduate of Horace Mann High School in Gary, IN. Right after high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army, doing his basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia. He volunteered to serve in Vietnam after completing basic training but was not taken due to being an only child. Over the years, Pat continued to serve his country with the Army Reserves and with the National Guard. In fact, he even spent some time with the Navy Sea Bees Reserves. He was a true American patriot. Pat was a proud member of Operating Engineers Local 150 and was a heavy equipment operator, etc. for over 40 years. Not wanting to slow down completely after retirement from the Local 150, he actually worked as a Reserve Deputy Police officer for the Newton County and Morocco Police Departments for a number of years. Policework was just something he had always wanted to do. Pat enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, reading, watching movies, and spending time with his friends and family. He was also a lifelong gun enthusiast and collector. In addition, Pat and his late wife Marilyn (along with Bob, Al, and many other great friends) were members of the original chapter of The American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association for 10 years. Pat was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn, his dear mother Ellen (Oliver) Johnston, father Edwin Johnston, aunt Agnes (Oliver) Fedorowitz(uncle Leo), beloved cousin Carol (Fedorowitz) Vischak, uncle William Oliver II (aunt Gladys), dear cousins John Oliver, and Rebecca (Oliver) Pusateri, Aunt Margaret Knotter, also both sets of grandparents, and many more aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was survived by his beloved son Colin Johnston(Tracy), grandson Evan, granddaughters Abigail and Hannah, all of Southaven, Mississippi, stepsons Jason Fiegle and Brian Fiegle(Jamie) and step grandchildren Johnathan and Nicky, “adopted” family Joel Betz(Nikki) and their sons Axel and Gage, dear cousins Paul Oliver, Patricia(Oliver) Sales, James Oliver, Wendy(Oliver) El Fallahi, Robert Halko(Rita), Bette Clark(Halko), Robert Halko II, Brenda Gentry(Halko), Byron Halko, Tracey Onohan(Vischak), Mary Ann Teglas, Debbie Filipas(Terry), John Teglas(Tammy), his dear friends Bob Utter(Catherine) and many other cousins and friends. Pat was a devoted and loving father, grandfather, cousin, friend, mentor, and husband, and he will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date, yet to be determined.