Obituary of Dorsey Allen Johnson

In loving memory of Dorsey "Buck" Allen Johnson, of Portland, Oregon, who went home to our Lord in heaven on May 7, 2022. Buck was born on October 16, 1938, to Eleanore and Victor Johnson in Velva, North Dakota. They moved to Portland when he was young, and he attended several elementary schools. He eventually graduated from Franklin High School in 1956 and was fortunate enough to still have a close-knit group of special high school friends at the time of his death. After high school, he attended the University of Oregon, then joined the US Army where he served as Military Police. Buck then met the love of his life, Carole (Pawlack) and they were inseparable and happily married for over 57 years. They had their one and only child Tina (Kent) in 1965. Buck was one of the most selfless, kindest, generous gentlemen there ever was and truly a "gentle man". There are innumerable people in this world who considered him their "best friend". He was a loving and adoring father, as well as his daughter's hero. In 1990, he finally gained a son, his wonderful son-in-law, Brian, who became one of those "best friends". Buck was an Ironworker for 35 years, a member of Local 29, and a co-owner of Action Steel Erectors, with Joe Lamberton and Carole, for 18 years. One of the few projects that Buck said, "you can actually still see their work on" was the steel spires of the Oregon Convention Center, or "Papa's Towers", as his grandkids called it. He retired in 1993, at the same time his first grandchild, Austin, was born, and thus began his role as the best "Papa" ever. When his granddaughter, Sydney, came along five and a half years later, his world then revolved around the two of them, and he showered them with love and support (until we were all blessed with our beloved dog, Sammy, then at times SHE was the center of his world). They all had such an extraordinary bond that few rarely experience. None of us will ever be able to fill the void left behind by his passing. Buck enjoyed downhill skiing and was an avid golfer who enjoyed playing with his friends until he was physically unable. Along with his grandchildren, friends, family and Sammy, his retirement was filled with many years of rest and relaxation time in his favorite destination, Mexico, and traveling the world with Carole and cherished friends. He was predeceased by his wife, parents, father-in-law Eric Pawlack, mother-in-law Odessa "Peggy" Pawlack, niece Diana Moffitt, brother-in-law Calvin Reehl, and brother-in-law Richard "Dick" Pawlack. He is survived by his daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, sisters Orajean Reehl and Veanne Lupia, sister-in-law Gayle Moffitt, nephews Paul Moffitt (Deborah), Eric Reehl, and Darren Reehl, and nieces Andrea Andres (Wade) and Sara Larson. A Memorial Service for both Buck & Carole will be held on Saturday, July 16th at 1 pm at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd, Portland; Celebration of Life for both will follow from 2-5 pm at Sheraton Portland Airport, 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Buck's name to the Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate or to the American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/?form=FUNELYZXFBW