It is with great sadness that one of the longtime RPPAA members passed September 5th, 2012. Bob Johnson, longtime trombonist with the Rock Prairie Concert Band, Big Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz Combo, among many other groups throughout the Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and others in the region, passed away in his hometown of Beloit on Wednesday, September 5th, at the age of 82.

Here is the obituary from the Beloit Daily News;

Robert Byron Johnson, 82, of Beloit, WI, died suddenly at Beloit Memorial Hospital on September 5th, 2012. Born in Boone, Iowa, Bob was the son of the late Herbert H. Johnson and Jeannette Reid Johnson of Janesville, WI.

Bob graduated from Janesville High School in 1948. He received his Professional Engineering license after pursuing a civil engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His main athletic focus was track. He held records for the broad jump (22ft, 9.5 in) and 200 yard dash (20.2s) set at the WIAA Sectional Track Meet on May 15, 1948. Advancing his illustrious activities, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and also of the W-club, lettering in track, and captain of the UW-Madison track team. After college, he served in the United States Army as an officer/engineer in the Korean War. While in the Army, he medaled in the Chicago relays. After his military stint, he became a member of the American Legion Post #449.

Bob and Joanne married on June 12, 1962, in Plainfield, WI. He worked at Beloit Corporation as a civil engineer for 30 years in Beloit, Pinerolo (Italy), Valladolid (Spain) and New Delhi (India). After retiring from Beloit Corporation, he worked full time for AquaTec, Inc. until 1995.

During his lifetime, he worked as a semi- professional musician in many local bands (Beloit, Janesville, Milwaukee) until a few weeks before his death. His love for the trombone began in third grade and grew to encompass big band and swing, Dixie, jazz and concert bands. He was constantly promoting musical activities and sharing concert recordings with friends and family.

Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joanne Elaine Johnson; one child, Arik F. Johnson and grandson, Ira DeGlopper; son-in-law, Jacob DeGlopper; sister, Marilyn J. Nelson of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother, Tom (Ann) Johnson of Hickory, NC; brother-in-law, Robert (Mara) Coon of Madison, WI; sister-in-law, Shirley (Clark) Walker of Tullahoma, TN; uncle, Morry (Elinor) Reid of Glen Ellyn, IL; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, John H. Nelson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 9, 2012 in the River of Life United Methodist Church, 511 Public Avenue, Beloit, WI with Reverend David P. Carlson officiating. Interment will take place at Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service Sunday in the church. Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit, WI, assisted the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be given in his name to the United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.daleymurphywisch.com.

Bob will be sorely missed by all of us here in all of the RPPAA groups. Our condolences go out the Bob's wife Joanne and son Arik and the rest of the Johnson family.

Rest In Peace Bob, we will see you soon on the other side. May you provide music upstairs for all to enjoy there as much as we enjoyed you here.

ThankYou for all of the good music and memories,

All your friends and fellow musicians of the RPPAA