Greenfield, MA – Wilmer Johnson, a longtime husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on September 22, 2026. He was born on April 25, 1939, in Caribou, Maine, where he attended Caribou High School. He grew up in the nearby town of New Sweden, Maine.
In 1958, Wilmer joined the United States Navy and proudly served his country until 1962. Following his military service, he moved to Boston, where he met his future wife, Bonnie Lamoureaux, who was attending nursing school at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. The two married in 1963 and eventually settled in Bernardston, Massachusetts, where they spent more than 50 years raising their family. Bonnie preceded him in death in 2022.
Wilmer later continued his education and graduated from Western New England College.
Wilmer was a devoted father to his three sons, Peter, Eric, and Matthew. Wilmer took great pride in his family and was always there with encouragement, perspective, and advice. He will be remembered most of all for the many ways he showed his love for his sons and grandchildren. He was an ongoing source of advice on everything from sports to careers and life. He also made a point of frequently attending his sons’ sporting events, something his boys deeply appreciated and never took for granted. Whether he was coaching from the sidelines or sitting in the stands, Wilmer was there to support his sons and share in their accomplishments.
Some of his sons’ fondest memories were the summers the family spent in northern Maine, near the area where Wilmer grew up. Each summer, the family would spend two weeks at a cottage called Sunbeam on Madawaska Lake. Those summers were filled with fishing and canoeing, along with memorable summer evenings watching spectacular lightning storms move across the lake. The time spent together in Maine remains a lasting reminder for his family.
Toward the latter part of his career, Wilmer worked for several years on the plant and property team at Northfield Mount Hermon School. His decision to take that position reflected the sacrifices he was willing to make for his family and his desire to provide his sons with opportunities that would help shape their futures. Through his work at the school, he helped make it possible for Eric and Matthew to attend Northfield Mount Hermon, easing the financial burden on the family while giving them an educational opportunity he valued deeply.
He is survived by his brother, Clayton (Norma) Johnson, of Tamworth, New Hampshire, and his sister, Deb (Emery) Blanchette, of New Sweden, Maine. He is also survived by his son, Eric (Jennifer) Johnson and his grandsons, Drew and Chase, of Newport Beach, California; his son, Matthew (Lucrecia) Johnson and his grandsons, Benjamin and Tobi, of Tandil, Argentina; his grandson, Greyson Johnson, of Bellows Falls, Vermont; and many nieces and nephews. His eldest son Peter passed away in 2016.
Wilmer was a voracious reader and a loyal patron of his local library for many years. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Bernardston Public Library in Wilmer’s memory.
The family will hold a private ceremony at a later date to honor Wilmer and celebrate the life he shared with his family and friends.
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